Social media is awash with airbrushed images of celebrities and models, taken from specific angles and with camera filters that wildly distort reality. But what impact does the consumption of these images have on our perception of ourselves?
According to last year’s Girlguiding survey, a third (36%) of 7-10 year olds said people make them think that the most important thing about them is how they look. A quarter (23%) of girls aged 7-10 feel they need to be perfect.
Share your experiences
While the pressure to look as certain way is by no means restricted to women, we want to hear what it’s like being a girl growing up online. Do you feel pressure to look or act a certain way? Do certain websites or social media platforms make you feel worse? Are there any features that you feel should be removed? Have you received nasty or negative comments online? Do you feel pressure to be perfect? Have you turned to anyone for support?
Tell us your stories below.
- Please note that if you are under the age of 16 you will need parental permission before sharing your experiences.
If you’ve been affected by online abuse, you can contact Childline on 0800 11 11 or online at childline.org.uk.