Abstract:
In today’s digital age you can’t scroll through Instagram without stumbling upon a post from a social media influencer. For many teenagers, these influencers have become powerful role models that hold major sway upon how they think, behave and see themselves. Instagram influencers have become notorious for creating curated, edited and idealized versions of themselves online which can set unrealistic standards for beauty, success and lifestyle. But what impact does this have on teenage girls?
This paper explores how these Instagram influencers can have a negative impact on the formation of a teenage girl’s identity. It argues that influencers promote imitation and foster harmful social comparisons, which can distort self-perception and the development of a teenage girl’s authentic self.
Introduction:
Social media influencers hold immense power over the lives of teenagers, shaping their perspectives, behaviours and ideas of self-image. Influencers are individuals who have amassed a large following on social media, often using their reach to influence the behaviours, opinions and purchasing decisions of their audience (Bond & Hoffner, 2022). They have become notorious for creating a perfect image of themselves online, which ordinary viewers can only aspire to have (Chae, 2017). They often gain trust and popularity amongst teenage girls by reflecting shared identities, experiences and interests. Social media has now become a central part of a teenager’s life, and influencers are in the middle of that.
Through digital platforms like Instagram, these influencers are able to portray carefully curated and idealized versions of their lives online. While some influencers promote positivity, these idealized versions of a person can have negative effects on teenagers, particularly teenage girls. This essay argues that social media influencers negatively impact the development of a teenage girl’s sense of identity by encouraging imitation through the promotion of unrealistic standards, and fostering harmful social comparisons on Instagram, which ultimately distorts self-perception and hinders the development of an authentic self.
Imitation:
A person’s sense of identity is largely shaped during their formative years of adolescence (Branjet et al., 2021). The creation of such an identity is influenced by a number of factors in their lives including settings, people and social context. However, when the internet is added into this equation the formation of identity is heavily “transformed in new and even more global ways” (Worsham, 2011).
Teenagers often explore different ways of being through what they see in the world around them. Research suggests that they mirror their surroundings, which is typically their peers with whom they share similar experiences and interactions with (Lajnef, 2023). However, the development of social media now means a teenager’s peers are no longer the only influencers they reflect and mimic. Teenage girls gravitate toward social media influencers on Instagram as they look for someone they can relate to or aspire to become (Chae, 2017). For many teenage girls, influencers are considered role models in the construction of their identity because they often possess certain attributes that teens aspire to have as part of their ideal self, or because they reflect and share similar features to the young people that follow them. According to the social cognitive theory, social norms are learnt and accepted by observing the behaviour of role models (Bandura, 2001). Therefore, teenage girls are led to follow the behaviour and ways of being from their favourite influencers, as they look up to them as a role model.
Studies show that repeated social interactions between influencers and their audience can create a parasocial relationship. This is a one-sided connection, in which followers feel a sense of closeness or friendship with influencers, despite the influencer not knowing anything about them or never having an interaction in person (Hoffner & Bond, 2022). This relationship often encourages teens to imitate influencers behaviours and lifestyles. They are encouraged to aspire to live a life that is similar to this character that has been carefully curated online (Lajnef, 2023). Many teenagers feel as though they know social media influencers personally because of this parasocial relationship that has been created, which makes them more likely to copy their behaviours or model the actions they portray online. The curated content shared by influencers on Instagram sets a standard that teenage girls aspire to emulate. As noted by researchers such as Chartrand and Dalton (2009), individuals mimic their surroundings to fulfil a natural desire to belong to a social group or to be accepted by their peers. Teenagers look for groups or identities that align with their own experiences and aspirations, contributing to their need to belong (Bond, 2022). In this context, parasocial relationships with social media influencers can lead teenagers to adopt identities that closely mirror the influencers they follow. This can have a negative impact on their personal development, hindering the process of discovering their own unique identity (Bandura, 2001).
Social media influencers are also used as a marketing tactic for many companies across the world. In the past five years “influencer marketing was considered the most widespread and trendiest’ communication strategies used by the companies” (Frison & Eggermont, 2024). They are considered opinion leaders in a variety of fields such as food, travel or beauty because of their ability to persuade and influence their followers to use and do exactly what they do (Chae, 2017). Because teenage girls now spend a large part of their lives on Instagram, their identity formation is highly influenced by this. Targeted advertisements on social media affect the creation of a teenager’s identity by encouraging them to purchase new things that will mould their lives into the influencer’s, offering teens the same ideal life that the influencer has been able to achieve (Verduyn et. al., 2020). Simply put, identification is easier to achieve when there is a previous mould that can be mimicked. Given that an element of identity formation is “thinking about the type of person you want to be” (Arnett, 2010) having these idealized lives constantly and explicitly promoted to teenagers can have a serious impact on the formation of their identity, encouraging them to mimic what they see online. Furthermore, experts suggest that social media influencers are a form of peer pressure for teenagers (Frison & Eggermont, 2024). Everyday teens are bombarded with information on how they should dress, act, eat and exercise. As teenagers are already susceptible to peer influence, these social media influencers create an added pressure for teenage girls to become someone they are not, just to conform to and achieve this ideal life.
Social Comparison:
Social comparison is also a key part in the formation of a teenager’s identity (Arnett, 2010). Studies suggest it is both a tool of self-knowledge and a means of self-improvement and evaluation (Lajnef, 2023). There are two ways in which humans naturally compare themselves to others. The first is an upward comparison in which people compare themselves to a superior other that they aspire to be like, and the second is downwards to an inferior other that they believe they are above and better than (Festinger, 1954). Social media users compare themselves to others on many issues ranging from beauty, popularity or social class. For social media influencers, this social comparison is what their brand thrives off as it can generate follows, comments and likes. Social media influencers are known for posting their most attractive and perfect photos and videos to Instagram, which are often edited to represent their idealized self. Doing so inevitably encourages their teenage viewers and followers to compare themselves (Schreurs & Vandenbosch, 2021). On Instagram self-comparison is a frequent process that sways more toward upward comparisons (Verduyn et al., 2020).
This is further demonstrated through the social identity theory which proves that teenagers appreciate the positive reinforcement they get from being included in a group, and dislike the feeling of rejection (Arnett, 2010). To reinforce their sense of belonging, teenage girls follow influencers on social media as it appears they have created a sense of community for teens to belong and relate to. The result of this however, is that it makes them more vulnerable to influencer culture (Chae, 2017). They are naturally drawn to comparing themselves to a lifestyle that may be unrealistic and unachievable, which can have a negative impact on their self-image and the formation of their identity. This upward comparison creates unattainable expectations for teenage girls, confusing their own realities and identities with what is falsely portrayed online. For example, many teenage girls admire and aspire to be like social media sensation Kylie Jenner. The 27-year-old has amassed more than 394 million followers on Instagram (Jenner, n.d.). She has a carefully curated online presence that showcases her wealth, fashion and beauty routines through often photoshopped and edited pictures. This can lead teenage girls to compare themselves to this idealized personality that is practically impossible for them to achieve. Jenner has openly admitted to having multiple cosmetic surgeries, and showcasing this ‘perfect life’ can lead teens to feel like they need to do the same in order to achieve her success (Buggy, 2019).
Professor Danielle Wagstaff from Federation University explains that the influencer culture on social media can lead teenagers to “derive a false sense of what everyone else is doing” (Wagstaff, 2021). As previously stated, the result of this is social comparison which can “make us feel like we’re simply not good enough” (Wagstaff, 2021). Influencers feed their viewers with a false view of what is classed as ‘normal’ in terms of appearance and how people identify, which in turn makes teenage girls feel as though they should be doing the same.
Positives:
While Instagram based influencers can have a negative effect on the formation of teenage girls’ identity, there are some positives that should be acknowledged.
Many teenagers are drawn to social media influencers because they can act as ambassadors for “self-expression, which enable self-reflection, catharsis, and validating feedback” (Boyd, 2008). As previously stated, they can offer a sense of belonging and connection which teenagers naturally seek out in the formation of their identity (Hoffner & Bond, 2022).
Social media influencers hold the power to positively reflect and validate parts of a teenager’s identity that they may not be able to recognize and tap into by themselves or through their physical surroundings. This can be particularly important for teenagers who may be confused and questioning their sexual identity. As previously mentioned, one’s identity is partly created and mirrored off what is reflected in the world around them (Lajnef, 2023). LGBTQI+ teenagers may not be surrounded by others who share similar experiences in their everyday lives, and discovering this by themselves can be confusing and isolating (Frison & Eggermont, 2024). In this scenario, relating to social media influencers can help teens shape their own identity. An example of this can be seen in social media influencer Jazz Jennings (Jennings, n.d.). Jennings is one of the most well-known transgender activists in the world. She shares her personal journey around self-discovery and transitioning which can help young people feel seen, heard and supported while exploring their own gender identity. By advocating for a greater understanding and acceptance of gender diversity, she stands as a positive role model for those questioning their own identity.
Conclusion:
Teenage girls’ identities are constantly evolving as they learn more, not only about themselves, but about the world around them. Instagram influencers play a large role in shaping that journey, with much of their influence being negative. They wield significant influence over young girls, shaping their self perception and overall sense of identity. While these influencers can help teens express themselves, particularly for marginalised groups, the pressures they impose on their followers by portraying idealized representations of life often lead to negative consequences. The pressure to imitate the idealized versions of life gives girls unrealistic standards to live up to and harmful social comparisons. The curated nature of influencer content on Instagram creates an environment where teenage girls are encouraged to mimic behaviours, appearances and lifestyles that are unattainable. As a result, Instagram influencers can hinder the development of a young girls sense of self, leaving teenagers grappling with distorted views of beauty, success, and personal identity. These factors complicate and distort the identity formation of teenage girls as they may struggle to distinguish their true selves from the carefully curated versions of life they are bombarded with online.
References:
Arnett, J. J. (2010). Adolescence and emerging adulthood: A cultural approach. (4th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall.
Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory of mass communication. Media Psychology, 3, 265–299. https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0303_03
Bond, B. J., & Hoffner, C. (2022). Social influence and parasocial relationships in the digital age. Journal of Social Media Studies, 1(1), 1-10.
Boyd, D. (2007). Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: The Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life. In D. Buckingham (Ed.), MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Learning Youth, Identity, and Digital Media Volume. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Branjet, S., de Moor, E., Spitzer, J., & Becht, A. (2021). Dynamics of identity development in adolescence: A decade in review. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 31(4), 908–927. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12678
Buggy, S. (2019). The ‘Insta-famous’ role model: Kylie Jenners influence on young teenage girls and the representation of self Buggy%20S-2019-The%20’insta-famous’%20role%20model%3B%20Kylie%20Jenner’s%20influence%20on%20young%20teenage%20girls%20and%20the%20representation%20of%20self.pdf
Chae, J. (2017). Explaining Females’ Envy Toward Social Media Influencers. Media Psychology, 21 (2), 246-262. https://doi-org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/10.1080/15213269.2017.1328312
Chartrand, T. L, & Dalton, A. N. (2009). Mimicry: Its ubiquity, importance, and functionality. In E. Morsella, J. A. Bargh, & P. M. Gollwitzer (Eds.), Oxford handbook of human action (pp. 458–483). Oxford University Press.
Frison, E., & Eggermont, S. (2024). Social media: A digital social mirror for identity development during adolescence. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05980-z
Jenner, K. [@kyliejenner]. (n.d.). Instagram profile. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/kyliejenner/
Jennings, J. [@jazzjennings_official]. (n.d.). Instagram profile. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/jazzjennings_official/
Lajnef, K. (2023). The effect of social media influencers’ on teenagers behavior: an empirical study using cognitive map technique. Current Psychology, January 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04273-1
Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7, 117–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872675400700202
Schreurs, L., & Vandenbosch, L. (2021). Introducing the Social Media Literacy (SMILE) model with the case of the positivity bias on social media. Journal of Children and Media, 15(3), 320–3370. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2020.1809481
Verduyn, P., Gugushvili, N., Massar, K., Täht, K., & Kross, E. (2020). Social comparison on social networking sites. Current Opinion in Psychology, 36, 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.04.002
Wagstaff, D. (2021, February 18). How we’re all being changed by influencer culture. BBC Three https://www.bbc.com/bbcthree/article/b5488f38-e9c4-4e0c-95e2-3002f47f88f8
Worsham, S. (2011, November 28). Media’s Influence on Social Norms and Identity Development of Youth [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.personal.psu.edu/bfr3/blogs/applied_social_psychology/2011/11/medias-influence-on-social-norms-and-identity-development-of-youth.html
Hi Shannon Kate, You’re right to ask; it is incredibly difficult to police these issues today. Predatory behaviour isn’t exclusive…