More than the physical harm, parents and child psychologists worry about the trend’s effects on girls’ mental health.

When she was in fifth grade, Scarlett Goddard Strahan started to worry about getting wrinkles.

By the time she turned 10, Scarlett and her friends were spending hours on TikTok and YouTube watching influencers tout products for achieving today’s beauty aesthetic: a dewy, “glowy,” flawless complexion. Scarlett developed an elaborate skin care routine with facial cleansers, mists, hydrating masks and moisturizers.

One night, Scarlett’s skin began to burn intensely and erupted in blisters. Heavy use of adult-strength products had wreaked havoc on her skin. Months later, patches of tiny bumps remain on Scarlett’s face, and her cheeks turn red in the sun.

“I didn’t want to get wrinkles and look old,” says Scarlett, who recently turned 11. “If I had known my life would be so affected by this, I never would have put these things on my face.”

The skin care obsession offers a window into the role social media plays in the lives of today’s youth and how it shapes the ideals and insecurities of girls in particular. Girls are experiencing high levels of sadness and hopelessness. Whether social media exposure causes or simply correlates with mental health problems is up for debate. But to older teens and young adults, it’s clear: Extended time on social media has been bad for them, period.

  • solsangraal@lemmy.zipEnglish
    131·
    3 months ago

    not enough people in this thread are condemning the actual root problem, which is the socially constructed bullshit standard of “if you look like you’re over 35, then no one wants anything to do with you.” especially if you’re a woman. it’s been this way for many generations. way before social media or influencers.

    • RecluseRamble@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      51·
      3 months ago

      While you’re right about the beauty standards the actual root problem here is

      By the time she turned 10, Scarlett and her friends were spending hours on TikTok and YouTube

      Thank your shitty parents, girl. They don’t give a shit what you do.

    • Mr_Blott@feddit.uk
      45·
      3 months ago

      I’ll get abuse for this, but there’s no escaping the fact that the other root problem in this is seriously shit parenting

      • solsangraal@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        3 months ago

        that’s true, but shitty parenting has been a problem since pretty much the beginning. ever read the bible? good parents will raise kids with enough confidence and self respect to not feel like they have to “modify” themselves to an excessive degree just to show their face in public

    • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
      28·
      3 months ago

      I agree with your points here but i think access to social media is exposing youth to that standard and the aceess to the products at an earlier age. This effect could also bleed into men in the sense of their standards for beauty become more unrealslistic as the top models are all they want on their screens.

    • capital_sniff@lemmy.world
      3·
      3 months ago

      I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect women to have the bodies of a 20 year old while displaying the intelligence and maturity of someone past their early 30s.