Teenagers are at a stage in life where they are still developing confidence and self-image. However, social media exposes them to unrealistic standards of beauty and body shape. Research has found that spending too much time online can increase the risk of low self-esteem, anxiety and unhealthy eating habits. This can lead to dangerous behaviours such as skipping meals, extreme dieting or overeating. Another problem is the influence of online fitness trends and diet advice, which are often not based on proper medical knowledge. These trends can mislead young people into following unhealthy practices.
To solve this problem, parents and teachers should guide teenagers about the safe use of social media. Schools should teach students to understand that not everything online is real and social media companies should also take responsibility by reducing harmful content and promoting healthy and realistic body images.
Muhammad Salih
Karak
