Selfies can affect a teenager’s self-esteem and mental health, and cause a preoccupation with “likes.” Healthy habits, including limiting screen time and promoting authenticity, may help to reduce the risk of negative health consequences.
Teenagers may take selfies as a form of entertainment, to document events in their lives, or to put on social media.
Parents and caregivers should be aware of the potential negative influences teens may face exposure to and help guide them on safely using selfies and social media for positive outcomes.
This article explores how taking selfies may affect teenager’s overall health and mental health. It also discusses healthy habits teens can form on social media with selfies and tips for talking about selfies with teens.
Social media has transformed how today’s teens interact with each other and the world. According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory, 95% of teens ages 13–17 use social media and 1 in 3 teens say they use social media “almost constantly.”
While there is still much to learn, it is clear that many young people are using selfies to post on social media.
Filters and altering appearances
One potentially concerning aspect of selfies is filters that can dramatically change a person’s appearance. While some filters are entertaining and creative, others can distort reality and contribute to unrealistic beauty standards.
Viewing edited photos while scrolling on social media can cause teens to have negative feelings and insecurities about their own appearance.
According to a 2022 review,
Preoccupation with “likes” and validation
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However, according to the same review, many teens are critical of people who post selfies solely to seek praise or validation from others.
This puts many adolescents in a tough spot, as they seek acceptance by their peers through “likes” but do not want to appear overly desperate for validation.
Dangerous trends and potentially harmful content
Adolescents ages 10–19 are in a critical stage of life when identities and self-worth are forming. During this time, a teen is more susceptible to peer pressure and opinions, which may push them into harmful situations they would otherwise avoid.
Trends and challenges on social media often revolve around taking selfies, some of which encourage dangerous behaviors.
“Picture me drinking” is one such trend that encourages posts incorporating alcohol. The
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Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Irreversible online content
Some teens may not realize the permanence of selfies and other content they post online. Even on social media, where images “disappear.”
Once an image is online, it is challenging to control who sees it, copies it, or shares it. This may expose teens to
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This comprehensive analysis also determined a range of other concerns, including:
- sleep disturbances
- dietary and nutritional issues
- behavioral challenges
- sexual content exposure
- distorted body image perceptions
- instances of cyberbullying
- decreased physical activity
- vision issues
- headaches
- dental cavities
Here are several ways teens can develop healthier habits around social media when taking and posting selfies:
- Limit screen time: Reducing time on social media — for instance, to 30 minutes per day — may help teens establish a healthy online and offline balance.
- Develop protective strategies: Learn how to block unwanted contact and keep personal information safe online.
- Share information cautiously: Be mindful about sharing personal information and appropriate images online.
- Promote authenticity: Teens can be themselves online and embrace their imperfections.
- Seek help: If social media is negatively affecting a teen, contacting a trusted adult is critical. People can also call 988 for immediate help from the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
- Protect from cyberbullying: Teens must not keep online harassment or bullying a secret but should contact a trusted adult for help.
Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping teens stay safe while using social media and posting selfies. Here are some tips on how to talk with teens on this topic.
- Listen actively: Let teens express their thoughts and feelings about selfies and social media. Listen without judgment and validate their feelings.
- Discuss the dangers of social media: Talk with teens about the potential risks around selfies and social media. Give them information on how to stay safe while online.
- Set online boundaries together: Discuss boundaries regarding screen time, privacy settings, and posting frequency.
- Lead by example: Demonstrate healthy social media and selfie behavior by modeling appropriate behaviors with social media, such as posting positive selfies and having a healthy online-offline balance.
While selfies may seem harmless enough, and many times they are, they can have negative consequences for teens in combination with social media. These can include diminished self-esteem, distorted body image, and behavior that may have harmful effects.
Parents and caregivers should understand these possible influences and guide teens toward using selfies and social media safely.
Reducing time on social media, promoting authenticity, and learning how to stay safe online can help reduce the risk of mental health consequences.
