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Recent revelations from internal documents shared by the Wall Street Journal have highlighted serious concerns regarding Instagram’s impact on teenage girls’ mental health. Despite the widely recognized adverse effects of social media on young people’s self-esteem and body image, it appears that Facebook (the parent company of Instagram) has been aware of these issues yet has not taken substantial action to address them.
A report detailing the findings indicates that 32% of teenage girls reported feeling worse about their bodies after using Instagram. This internal memo, circulated within Facebook in March 2020, emphasized that social comparisons on the platform significantly influence how young women perceive and describe themselves. Many teens confessed to feeling “addicted” to Instagram, expressing a desire to use it less frequently but struggling to resist the urge to check it.
Facebook’s research has found that Instagram often exacerbates body image issues more than other platforms like TikTok or Snapchat, which tend to focus on entertaining content rather than fostering comparisons. Over the last three years, the company has identified that a considerable number of its young users, particularly girls, are adversely affected by the app.
Alarmingly, the internal research revealed that in 2019, it was stated, “We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls.” Teens attributed increases in anxiety and depression to Instagram, and one study indicated that over 40% of teens who felt unattractive linked this feeling to their Instagram usage. Furthermore, among teen users experiencing suicidal thoughts, 6% of American users and 13% of British users associated their distress with Instagram.
Despite these findings, executives at Facebook have often downplayed the severity of the situation. In a March congressional hearing, CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that social media could benefit mental health by fostering connections. Compounding concerns, the company has proposed launching a version of Instagram aimed at children under 13, raising alarm among lawmakers.
For further details, you can explore the internal documents and research shared by the Wall Street Journal.
Summary
Internal documents reveal that Instagram contributes to body image issues for one in three teenage girls, with many attributing their mental health struggles to the platform. Despite significant evidence, Facebook executives have downplayed these concerns, while plans for a child-specific version of Instagram have sparked further debate.