By Remy Rosenberg 

How many of the people you follow on social media are influencers? Influencers can be entertaining, inspiring, and even feel like friends you’ve never met. But just because they have hundreds of thousands to millions of followers, doesn’t mean everything they post is true, realistic, or safe to follow. Taking a few seconds to think about what you see can save you from stress and risky choices.

Many female influencers only share highlights with their best angles, perfect lighting, or edited photos, not the entire picture. It’s easy for teens to compare their life to influencers feeds and feel like they don’t even compare. Remember, no one lives a perfect life and everyone has struggles, but you usually won’t see them posted on social media. Filtering out unrealistic appearances or lifestyles will help you stay in perspective and avoid unnecessary stress.

For example, I know many teenage girls follow beautiful influencers that seem to live the perfect life with the perfect face and body. When girls see this, it is tempting to compare themselves and feel like they’re not enough. But teens need to understand that these influencers do not post what they look like when their skin breaks out, or what they look like on a bad day. No teenager should ever compare themself to an unrealistic image of how they should look.

It is also important to think about the advice that influencers give. Some tips, like fashion, are harmless, while others about appearance are risky and can lead to bigger problems in the future. Trying every product, diet, or workout just because someone else does it can lead to disappointment or even danger. Before taking any advice, ask yourself: “Is this safe? Does this really make sense for me?”

According to Common Sense Media, “Roughly one in three girls who use TikTok (31%), Instagram (32%), and Snapchat (28%) say they feel bad about their body at least weekly when using these platforms, while nearly twice as many say they feel good or accepting of their bodies at least weekly while using TikTok (60%), Instagram (57%), and Snapchat (59%).”

How to Limit Influencers’ Influence

  • If you feel like an influencer is poorly influencing you, unfollowing them will save you from a lot of stress.
  • Take breaks. Sometimes you may need to take a step back from scrolling. Even a short break from scrolling can help reset your mindset and remind you that life isn’t as perfect as social media makes it seem.
  • Fact check before taking advice. If an influencer recommends a product, diet, or lifestyle change, do a little research first. Check credible sources or see if experts agree. This will keep you safe and help avoid any unnecessary stress or bad decisions.

Conversation Starters:

  1. Have you ever felt stressed or self-conscious after following an influencer?
  2. Do you fact check products or tips influencers recommend before trying them?
  3. How do you decide which influencers are worth following?
  4. Have you ever taken a break from social media to feel better about yourself?
  5. Do you think parents should monitor who their kids are following?

Learn more

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