Effects of Social Media on Girls

Scrolling through TikTok, it’s hard not to notice the new trends and clothing hauls that end up on my feed daily. At first, they seem harmless, even fun and a great conversation starter. But the deeper I scroll, the more I notice how these trends quietly push specific standards for how girls should look, act, and even feel. As a female in high school, I’ve felt the pressure to present myself as effortlessly put together and fit a specific trendy character.

The article we read highlights just how much more damaging social media can be for girls compared to boys. According to the study cited, girls between the ages of 10 and 15 who used social media frequently showed higher rates of anxiety, depression, and poor sleep.  I’ve definitely found myself staying up way too late scrolling, even when I know I should be sleeping; it is such a mindless action that happens almost daily. It’s a cycle that’s hard to break, and I know a lot of my friends around me feel the same way.

These TikTok personas often glamorize unrealistic beauty standards or emotional struggles, turning them into something trendy. The “clean girl” aesthetic, for example, promotes minimalist makeup and flawless skin, implying that perfection should look effortless. On the other hand, the “sad girl” trend turns emotional pain into an aesthetic, encouraging people to share their "crash-outs" in hopes that people on social media will relate, which has normalized this behavior.

From my perspective, most of what I see on social media is very performative, even the videos that are meant to be vlogs or casual routines. And as an Asian girl, I’ve also noticed that I don’t always fit perfectly into these mainstream stereotypes. Sometimes it feels like there’s a whole different set of expectations, like being quiet, studious, or hyper-respectful, that come from cultural stereotypes rather than TikTok trends. 

All of this has made me more aware of how much social media influences the way girls navigate our identities. It’s not just about the pressure to look a certain way, but to act and even feel a certain way just to fit in. Whether it’s trendy aesthetics or cultural expectations, Ms. Davey pointed it out: social media can be exhausting. However,  living in today's world, it often feels harder to live without social media than with it. The fear of missing out (FOMO) is real. Whether it’s missing a trend, a group chat, or an event everyone’s talking about, social media constantly reminds us of what we’re not part of. That pressure can be overwhelming, especially in high school when everyone is trying to find where they belong.