The story about the impact of all those 'pretty friends' in social media on self-esteem offers one good explanation for self-presentation fatigue. Researchers in the UK, Iowa and Ohio used Facebook to look at the impact on body image of selfies in social media vs. photos of celebrities and other beautiful people in magazines. They found that comparing oneself to Facebook friends "can make a young … [Read more...] about Pretty faces in social media vs. mass media
body image
Young change agents leveraging social media
This article was originally published July 19, 2012, then my service’s server crashed, losing months of data. So reposting 10/20/12. I hope parents and educators have seen these two clear signs of how kids are using social media to "be the change." There's 14-year-old Julia Bluhm in Maine who noticed that friends in ballet class were always criticizing their bodies and spearheaded a protest in … [Read more...] about Young change agents leveraging social media
Individual & social ’embodiment’ online: Key eating-disorders study
"Eating disorders affect between 1 and 4 percent of young adult women" and are on the increase, diagnoses having "risen more than 50% since the 1970s," according to the authors of "Pro-anorexia Communities and Online Interaction: Bringing the Pro-ana Body Online." But, before this important study, rare coverage in the news media did little besides increase speculation that these communities are … [Read more...] about Individual & social ’embodiment’ online: Key eating-disorders study
Undercover Mom in Stardoll, Part 2: The skinny on virtual paperdolls
By Sharon Duke EstroffIn case there’s any doubt over which is more fun - trying on real clothes at Bloomingdales or trying on virtual clothes at a Stardoll department store - there shouldn’t be. The latter is the hands-down winner.Having survived recent bathing suit shopping trauma, I found dressing up MattieLu, my Stardoll avatar, to be a little slice of shopping heaven. Every frock I slipped … [Read more...] about Undercover Mom in Stardoll, Part 2: The skinny on virtual paperdolls