Looking at a girl’s social media usage can be jarring. Although
social media has its benefits - connecting with others, finding roles models, learning about diverse people, and being a platform to exercise her voice – it can also become a place where she obsessively compares herself to the perfectly curated, and let's be honest, completely unrealistic lives of others. In fact, studies have linked social media to an increase in depression and suicidal thoughts.
Because girls are always connected, they are constantly faced with messages about how they should look and act, and who they should be. According to
The Girls’ Index, girls who spend the most time on technology are 24% more likely to want to change their appearance.
The same study indicates that 31% of girls reported being bullied or made fun of on social media. And, if that wasn’t alarming enough, recent research shows that girls face extreme pressure and conflicting messages when making decisions about sending photographs of themselves to others or sexting.
Girls on the Run aims to serve as an antidote to the pressures and stressors of social media by offering a safe, inclusive, and let’s not forget, fun space where girls can learn how to make intentional decisions, stand up for themselves and others, and most importantly, love who they are, exactly as they are.
So, what can we do when our girls aren't in a positive, supportive environment? We have to encourage them to be their best and to apply the lessons they've learned in the non-digital world. Although social media platforms are always going to be changing, the skills that will help girls navigate these tricky situations are a constant. When girls learn how to stand up for themselves and others, it’s a skill they can use at the lunch table or in the comments section. By teaching girls to be thoughtful with their words and to think through how their actions affect themselves and other people, girls can use this knowledge in any situation.
Social media is a tool, and we have a choice and a voice regarding how it’s used. It’s on us to teach girls the same.
