Snaps, Sexts Selfies & Self-Esteem: The New Social Media Landscape for Girls

Course overview

Social media has transformed the lives of girls in profound ways and is impacting the ways girls navigate their personal and social lives. With high school girls spending on average six hours a day on social media and 2 out of 3 reporting that they have been asked to send a revealing photo to another person, it is no wonder that adults and helping professionals are at a loss when it comes to helping girls navigate their social world. Now more than ever, the digital divide is widening. Today's generation of girls has never known a time without social media. As soon as they acquire their first phone (probably around age 9 or 10), girls receive access to an entire new social and digital world. Consequently, as the world becomes increasingly complex, the impact of technology and social media on girls' perceptions, relationships, beliefs, and aspirations warrants specific attention. As a result, the ways in which adults communicate with, relate to, and connect with girls must also evolve to be relevant to their experiences. No longer can we simply say, "Put the phone away," or "Just don't go on those sites anymore." We've got to take the time to dig in and fully understand the complexities of girls' technological lives. This workshop will utilize the findings of the first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking research of The Girls' Index, conducted by ROX (Ruling Our eXperiences), the national nonprofit leading programming, research, and education focused on girls. ROX surveyed nearly 11,000 girls across the country on issues like relationships, confidence, leadership, school, and - of course - social media. The full report reveals key insights into the complex world of today's girls and the relationship that technology and social media play in girls' confidence, relationships, academics, and aspirations. ROX will share new insights and compelling data about the technological lives of girls and will provide professionals with the resources and strategies necessary for helping girls more successfully navigate their online experiences.