A University of the Sunshine Coast study has revealed the alarming effects of cyberbullying on teenage girls, many of whom feel pressured to diet and undergo cosmetic procedures.
The survey of hundreds of girls highlights the growing impact of appearance-related bullying and its connection to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.
Laura Chamberlain, a senior practitioner and eating disorder recovery coach with support organisation endED, knows how it feels to desperately want to change your body.
As a teenager she experienced relentless appearance-related criticism on social media that contributed to her developing an eating disorder.
“I remember feeling like the only way to stop the way I was feeling was to change the way I looked,” Ms Chamberlain said.
“It consumed me, and I didn’t know how to escape it.”
Neuroscience researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast have found that appearance-related bullying against teenage girls is far more common than previously thought.
The survey, conducted between March and June last year, involved more than 300 girls aged 14 to 19 across Australia and New Zealand.
Taliah Prince says the findings show the impact of appearance-related cyberbullying during a vulnerable stage of brain development. (Supplied: UniSC)
Youth mental health PhD researcher Taliah Prince said the data showed that 98 per cent of respondents had experienced some form of cyberbullying and that 62 per cent reported that it related to the way they looked.
“What we did find is that appearance-related cyberbullying is very prevalent in adolescents,” Ms Prince said.
“Ninety-six per cent of adolescent girls who experienced appearance-related cyberbullying reported the desire to change their appearance through dieting, exercise, or cosmetic procedures.
“We also found it was associated with increased body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms.”
Ms Prince said action was vital because eating disorders had the highest mortality rate among psychiatric conditions in adolescent girls and that body dissatisfaction was the leading risk factor.
Laura Chamberlain says more research is needed to show the harmful effects of cyberbullying on teens and the impact of social media on young people.
Social media ‘the catalyst’
Ms Chamberlain said the data matched what she was seeing in her work at endED.
“This certainly aligns with what we are hearing from individuals as well as parents and carers,” Ms Chamberlain said.
“Social media was the catalyst for the start of their eating disorder and we’re seeing younger and younger individuals impacted.”
As a coach with lived experience, Ms Chamberlain says that teenagers she works with feel less shame talking to her because of her own recovery journey.
She advocates for positive online behaviours.
“We encourage people to unfollow harmful influencers, marketing companies or anyone speaking unkindly,” Ms Chamberlain said.
“We encourage teens to follow positive role models who build self-esteem and remind you that you are so much more than just your body.”
She said the research would help raise awareness of the harmful effects of cyberbullying on adolescents.
Ms Chamberlain says help is available for those struggling with eating disorders.
“Reach out to a GP experienced with eating disorders for early intervention,” she said.
“There is always hope.”
Research shows adolescent girls who are the victims of cyberbullying are more likely to feel ashamed of their bodies. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Janel Shorthouse)
Is a platform ban the answer?
The federal government is trialling methods to verify the age of people accessing social networks and adult sites.
By the end of the year, it wants to introduce legislation banning children from social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
But Ms Prince says banning children might not help solve online bullying and body image problems.
“A lot of research shows that social media is really important for adolescent social connection, and this can be a preventative factor for many mental health concerns,” she said.
“One of the most important things we can do to mitigate the negative impacts of social media is by enhancing digital literacy.
“This would help young people critically evaluate the content they see online, understand the risks and learn how to report bullying.”
Ms Prince believes social media platforms need to take more responsibility for what occurs on their sites.
“They need to enforce stricter policies against cyberbullying and provide resources for those affected,” she said.
Kirra Pendergast says personal experiences shape her mission to protect others from similar harm. (Supplied: Kirra Pendergast)
Have the ‘big conversations’
Kirra Pendergast, the founder of online safety education group Safe on Social, knows firsthand the impact of bullying.
Her body image struggles began in childhood with relentless teasing about her size and continued into adulthood.
Teenagers are encouraged to report cyberbullying. (Supplied: eSafety.gov.au)
The harassment escalated when a person created fake accounts to target her.
Ms Pendergast believes building self-esteem before children access the online world is essential.
“Big conversations need to start early,” she said.
“Teach teens that what they see online isn’t real and doesn’t define them.”
Safe on Social provides tools to navigate the internet safely and build resilience against cyberbullying.
Ms Pendergast said the need for strong support networks and open conversations about body positivity.
“Lots of sport, art, music … whatever you can afford,” she said.
She also urged parents to monitor their children’s online activity and be proactive in addressing concerns.
“Don’t wait until the damage is done, be involved from the start,” Ms Pendergast said.
She advocates fostering communication and encouraging body positivity as key steps in tackling cyberbullying among young people.
Hope and support
The Resilience and Mental Health research program at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute says there are measures proven to help children cope with traumatic life events such as bullying, including:
- Fostering a positive sense of self-identity
- Maintaining a good connection to family and friends
- Maintaining a strong connection to culture
- Ensuring teens are enjoying hobbies or activities outside of school hours
- Family guidance
- Ensuring there is a positive engagement with the school and the teachers there
- Fostering a sense of optimism for the future
- Helping teens build the capacity to identify and regulate their emotions
