{"id":11355,"date":"2019-02-27T11:49:39","date_gmt":"2019-02-27T11:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/?p=9637"},"modified":"2022-03-18T05:09:24","modified_gmt":"2022-03-18T05:09:24","slug":"instagram-can-affect-teens-self-image-heres-how-parents-can-help-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/screentimelabs.com\/blog\/instagram-can-affect-teens-self-image-heres-how-parents-can-help-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Instagram Can Affect Teens' Self-Image. Here's How Parents Can Help."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Teenager<\/figure>\n\n\n

Talk About Social Pressure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

Particularly when it comes to body image, which the majority of studies on Instagram focus upon, Instagram can be yet another venue for near-constant social pressure. After all, on TV, in ads, on movie screens, anywhere there’s an image, there’s usually a toned model or worse, a perfectly normal person presented as less than desirable.<\/p>\n\n\n

Have a heart-to-heart<\/a> about social pressure and the roots behind it. One point your kids need to have reinforced is that in many cases, those “perfect” Instagrammers are trying to sell them something, and that they achieve their apparent “perfection” by using layers of filters, make-up, and special lighting to present a false image. Many famous Instagram personalities would likely be unrecognizable on the street, because their online image is so highly processed and curated.<\/p>\n\n\n

Limit Time On Instagram<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

In some cases, just the act of using Instagram can affect your self-esteem. Studies have found that the constant, endless scroll of perfection can eat at your happiness<\/a>, while simultaneously being addictive. Even if you only follow people you know, consider this: When you post about your family, do you ever include, say, a disappointing report card? If you’re talking about work, do you post a selfie with the boss who just told you to shape up or ship out? Probably not, because you don’t want to talk about it. But neither does anybody else, and over time, that reinforces the idea that you’re the only one without a perfect family, body, and job.<\/p>\n\n\n

Your children should understand that Instagram is designed to drip-feed them things they want to see, so that they’ll keep scrolling. Point out this behavior; for example, you might use parental control apps for cell phones to limit Instagram time to a certain number of minutes a day, and they can observe how they feel afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"Father