Two thirds (66%) of girls in Romania feel judged for the way they dress because of the toxic content of social media, according to a World Vision Romania survey.
In a press release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, the organization draws attention to the "harmful pressures" to which teenage girls are subjected online.
"In a society dominated by appearances, filters and unrealistic ideals, teenage girls are increasingly under constant pressure to conform to artificially imposed standards. According to a survey conducted by World Vision Romania among teenage girls, more than 66% of girls feel judged for the way they dress," the cited source said.
Moreover, 47% of teenage girls face "pressure to look perfect" because of social networks. Six out of ten girls have turned to extreme or unhealthy diets at least once to lose or gain weight.
According to the survey, 53% have avoided socializing because of insecurity about their appearance. Another 92% want schools to organize discussions about body image and online social pressures.
"Every day, women of all ages are confronted online with messages that can undermine their self-confidence - from disparaging comments and unrealistic standards of beauty to opinions about how they should behave or live," the press release shows.
To support young girls, World Vision Romania organized a live webinar on "Toxic content about women in social media", in partnership with Girl Up Romania and In a Relationship. The webinar was held by Silvia Ciubotaru, psychotherapist and coordinator of the In a Relationship platform, together with Anne-Marie Ionescu, a girl's rights activist at Girl Up Romania.
The two guests talked to young women about how they can deal with issues such as: harmful stereotypes that portray women as materialistic, fake or unable to manage money; the pressure of beauty standards - over-promoting physical perfection; the normalization of abuse - how certain types of online content can justify victim blaming and distort young people's perceptions of healthy relationships.
"The online world is a vast space, full of opportunities and pitfalls. In this sea of content generated at every moment, it is becoming increasingly difficult for young people to distinguish between what is healthy and what is harmful. It is essential to create spaces for genuine dialogue where we can discuss prejudice, discrimination and social pressures. This is the only way we can train critical thinking and self-confidence in teenagers," said Silvia Ciubotaru.
According to her, without a clear "mental map" of the benchmarks and ethical values for a balanced life, the mental health of the young generation will be profoundly influenced by the disinformation and divisive tendencies existing in virtual spaces.
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