According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, the social media giant Facebook has repeatedly found that its own photo-sharing app Instagram can be harmful to the mental health of teenage users, with teen girls at particular risk.
The app provides a quick and accessible tool for social comparison, according to the Verge. Users who scroll through their feeds or use the "Explore" function receive a megadose of idealized bodies through advertisements and carefully curated professional accounts. According to CNET, Facebook's own internal analysis has found that the experience is damaging for many young users, who frequently report feeling worse about their bodies after using the app.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
