CiNI publish youth-led research on the impact of social media
In autumn 2023, Children in Northern Ireland were approached by Neve McAlorum, a young person in Belfast who was looking for volunteering opportunities. We discussed the possibility of doing some research on a topic that she felt was important, and over the course of roughly six months, Neve’s work developed into a significant local study of the impact of social media on teenage girls in Northern Ireland.
Neve has produced a nuanced, detailed analysis of why some negative, harmful aspects of social media disproportionately affect girls. Her research also provides new data, specific to NI, exploring when girls first access social media, their experiences of cyber-bullying, impacts on self-esteem and body image, and some of the ways that social media can contribute to serious mental health conditions and self-harm.
Neve’s report also looks at what needs to change to better support young girls, and she highlights three key areas: government support to educate and equip parents/carers with appropriate knowledge; more honesty from parents/carers, and adults in general, with regard to the negative impacts; and stricter controls from app developers and social media companies to prevent cyber-bullying and stop harmful content.
You can read ‘The Impact of Social Media on Teenage Girls’ by Neve McAlorum here.
CiNI publish youth-led research on the impact of social media
In autumn 2023, Children in Northern Ireland were approached by Neve McAlorum, a young person in Belfast who was looking for volunteering opportunities. We discussed the possibility of doing some research on a topic that she felt was important, and over the course of roughly six months, Neve’s work developed into a significant local study of the impact of social media on teenage girls in Northern Ireland.
Neve has produced a nuanced, detailed analysis of why some negative, harmful aspects of social media disproportionately affect girls. Her research also provides new data, specific to NI, exploring when girls first access social media, their experiences of cyber-bullying, impacts on self-esteem and body image, and some of the ways that social media can contribute to serious mental health conditions and self-harm.
Neve’s report also looks at what needs to change to better support young girls, and she highlights three key areas: government support to educate and equip parents/carers with appropriate knowledge; more honesty from parents/carers, and adults in general, with regard to the negative impacts; and stricter controls from app developers and social media companies to prevent cyber-bullying and stop harmful content.
You can read ‘The Impact of Social Media on Teenage Girls’ by Neve McAlorum here.
