For teen girls, much of the negative social comparison on Instagram and other social media apps is related to appearance-leading to increased depression, lower levels of happiness, and higher rates of eating disorders.įurthermore, doctors and clinicians report that their patients with eating disorders often learn from Instagram and other social media apps how to purge or how to restrict food intake. In examining how Instagram affects body image, the researchers found that teens, especially girls, feel intense pressure to present their physical appearance in a positive light. One of Facebook’s internal research documents focused primarily on Instagram and body image. Tweens using Instagram Kids might be even more vulnerable to social media addiction. They talked about their desire to spend less time on Instagram, but said they didn’t have enough self-control to change their scrolling behavior. In addition, teens in Facebook’s survey noted the addictive quality of the app.
They also say that the app has undermined their confidence in the strength of their friendships. Adolescents blame this constant comparison for increases in anxiety and depression among their age group.
Moreover, teens said that the social comparison they experience on social media is worse on Instagram, because the app focuses more on lifestyle and body image.