Thesis

Speech

Cover

Hi, my name is Sandra, I’ll be presenting my theoretical research on how influencer culture affects adolescent anxiety and exploring psychological, social and protective factors.

Table of contents

Here’s a brief overview of what I’ll be covering today.

Introduction

My research will study how influencer culture contributes to anxiety in adolescents. Today’s college students, who are mostly gen-z, have been exposed to and influenced by social media at some point in their lives even though there were fewer platforms and technology was less advanced making them less accessible. However, as these platforms and technology continue to evolve, younger generations have easier access to devices which means constant and frequent exposure. This can be concerning since adolescence is a crucial time for brain development.

Definitions

Before I dive into the complex layers of my research, I’d like to define some old and new terms.

Influencer 2019

The word influencer has become a buzzword, and its original meaning has evolved. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines influencer as a person who inspires or guides the actions of others. Now, up until 2019, this was the only definition this word had.

Influencer today

It now includes a marketing-related definition to address the importance it has in social media and digital marketing. It added “a person who is able to generate interest in something by posting about it on social media”.

What is influencer culture

It’s a social phenomenon where individuals who have built a large social media following impose a significant influence over consumer behavior and trends. They do this by sharing relatable content, lifestyle choices, and opinions. So, the issue that’s concerning is how the influence in culture affects teens.

Paradigm shift

Influencer culture is causing what is psychologically known as a paradigm shift where one way of thinking is replaced by a slightly different perspective. This can affect us in small ways, like maybe changing what you see in these images. These small shifts aren’t what’s concerning. What is concerning is the shift in our values and feelings of self-worth during our adolescent years where we are more easily influenced.

Adolescent brain

Our adolescent years are an important stage of brain development as it’s a crucial time for developing our self-esteem and confidence. These are the years the brain gets fine-tuned by strengthening connections between different areas of the brain. For example, the prefrontal cortex is still developing and maturing. The prefrontal cortex helps with thinking, planning, decision making, and emotional control. During this time our brain has high plasticity which means the brain is very flexible and allows us to take in environmental influences. While this helps us become intellectual and emotionally regulated, it also makes us vulnerable to potentially harmful influences during these years. It also makes us sensitive to stress which can increase the risk of anxiety.

Dsm5

The DSM-5 defines an anxiety disorder as excessive or persistent worrying that causes fear and avoidance and impairs one's daily functioning. Because teens face new pressures like school, social challenges, and identity changes, they are more likely to experience anxiety symptoms.

Statistics

Now that we see why teens might be vulnerable to anxiety, I want to go over some statistics that help us see why this issue is concerning.

Journal of the American academy of child & adolescent psychiatry

In 2017 a meta-analysis published in this found that 1 in 3 of all adolescents will experience an anxiety disorder typically before the age of 15. The analysis reviewed 24 studies that included various disorders like generalized anxiety, separation anxiety and social phobia. This highlights just how widespread and early-onset anxiety is among teens today.

Nagata

A study conducted by Nagata and colleagues found that the median age that children sign up for their own social media account was just 12.9 years old. Of these participants, 63.8% had made at least 3 social media accounts before turning 13. This early exposure to online environments raises concerns about how this may affect developing minds.

National library of medicine 2023

According to a 2023 report from the National Library of Medicine, 95% of teens aged 13-17 have at least one social media account and more than a third of them said they use it almost constantly. While social media can offer a sense of connection during adolescent years, excessive use may contribute to heightened anxiety.

Jonathan haidt

Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist, explored how excessive screen time may contribute to the increasing levels of anxiety and depression in younger generations. He points out that teens today average about 9 hours of screen time per day.

Screen time often

Anything that kids do or use this often is worth observing because anything that they spend this much time on, must have a lasting effect on them during this important stage of development.

Key publications

With these statistics in mind, I want to go over some key publications that are central to my research.

The anxious generation

Sticking with Jonathan Haidt, his book, the anxious generation is drawing attention to how the rise of smartphones and social media has impacted today’s youth. He argues that children are experiencing a phone-based childhood meaning they are growing up online vs having real world explorations and face to face interactions. He suggests this shift is harmful to the emotional and psychological development of teens. His research found a strong correlation between increased anxiety and the rise of social media platforms. He states that social media fuels stress due to social comparison, FOMO and performance pressure. He also mentions how late-night scrolling is cutting into kids’ sleep so the lack of rest is only adding to these harmful effects.

Effects of habitual checking

Another study conducted by Dr. Berman and colleagues, was done to investigate the effects of habitual checking behaviors in teens. The study used fMRI scans to specifically focus on the area of the brain that involves emotion, rewards, self-awareness and decision making. The scans showed that teens who checked social media often showed increased activity in these areas of the brain. Overall, it shows us that checking social media often can affect the developing brain.

Role models mentors and hero’s

A study by Atif and colleagues explored how role models, mentors and heroes influence academic performance and social behaviors in teens. Their study found significant positive and negative results. Positive correlations were found with teens who picked strong role models or mentors. They showed to perform better in school and have better behavior and social skills. They also showed increased motivation and self-esteem. They found negative correlations with teens who identified role models or mentors as people their own age or those they only knew through personal connections. They were more likely to engage in riskier behaviors.

Why it matters

So why does it matter? Adolescent years are a crucial stage of identity formation where teenagers are discovering who they are, where they fit in and the values they hold. In today’s world, influencers serve as role models shaping teen aspirations, self-perception and behaviors. While influencer culture can offer inspiration and entertainment, it can also bring forward some challenges that can affect brain development during these years. The curated nature of content that is pushed out by influencers can blur the line between what’s real and fake leaving younger audiences vulnerable to feelings of anxiety.

Primary questions

So these are the questions I plan on addressing to hopefully bring more clarity on how influencer culture affects teens psychologically and socially. I want to focus on how it impacts brain development, the role that social influences play in mitigating or exacerbating these effects and what interventions can be employed to alleviate anxiety associated with influencer culture.

Methodology

The methodology of my research will include a thorough literature review using our library’s database to find peer reviewed research articles that contain both qualitative and quantitative data. I’ll be using specific keywords that are associated with influencer culture, anxiety in adolescence and preventative strategies to help guide my search. And by next semester I hope to address the preventative strategies that can help us mitigate the negative impact that influencer culture has on adolescent anxiety and also identify any gaps in current literature to suggest directions for future research.