Due to recent shutdowns, we have moved our project online. Our team meets weekly via Zoom. Girls Be True has been dedicated to continuing our mission of promoting positivity online and to also show your true self! During these difficult times, we quickly found mental health issues so important to address. Having to stay home during the lockdown has taken a toll on students, families, and teachers. We found through meeting weekly and working to spread positivity, it was bringing meaning and light into our members’ lives. Girls Be True members have created videos sharing things they look forward to doing once the lockdown if lifted! Girls Be True also created vision boards to help people find ways to stay positive while staying home. We continue to keep an online presence by way of Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and our Website in hopes to inspire others!
Problem Statement
The problem we are addressing is how social media negatively impacts teens' mental health. Often, people portray themselves as a certain way online which is not an accurate representation of their true identity. According to research by Manago:
“Manago et al. (2008) emphasize that one’s adolescent years are a critical time for identity formation. According to Goffman, “individuals develop a sense of self from creating an impression they wish to give to others” (Manago et al., 2008). Adolescents and emerging adults (those who are in the age period between 18 and early 20’s) rely on their social contacts to figure out who they are. With the emergence of social media, this process has moved into the virtual sphere. As a result, the individual may be tempted to construct a false self-presentation in order to be liked more by their peers.”
Teens are learning who they are at this age, and social media has a huge influence on identity. We want to empower young people and help them see that being their true self is the best self.
We plan on solving this problem by spreading awareness of the harmful effects of social media. We are going to create videos that portray the way social media can have a negative impact on our identities. We will educate students by holding assemblies and speaking to them in groups.
“Manago et al. (2008) emphasize that one’s adolescent years are a critical time for identity formation. According to Goffman, “individuals develop a sense of self from creating an impression they wish to give to others” (Manago et al., 2008). Adolescents and emerging adults (those who are in the age period between 18 and early 20’s) rely on their social contacts to figure out who they are. With the emergence of social media, this process has moved into the virtual sphere. As a result, the individual may be tempted to construct a false self-presentation in order to be liked more by their peers.”
Teens are learning who they are at this age, and social media has a huge influence on identity. We want to empower young people and help them see that being their true self is the best self.
We plan on solving this problem by spreading awareness of the harmful effects of social media. We are going to create videos that portray the way social media can have a negative impact on our identities. We will educate students by holding assemblies and speaking to them in groups.
Events
We will be planning several events both on our campus and at other schools. We will be visiting local elementary school to teach students about the importance of loving yourself and not changing who you are to fit in.
Elementary students will participate in a variety of self-esteem activities like drawing a portrait and writing out their best qualities and talents.
We will also hold an assembly at our middle school and educate our peers about the harmful effects of social media on mental health, the importance of maintaining your identity in a digital world, and how to cope with the pressures of maintaining an online persona.
We are also planning a Self Love Day. We will open this event to the community and invite all of our family and friends.
Elementary students will participate in a variety of self-esteem activities like drawing a portrait and writing out their best qualities and talents.
We will also hold an assembly at our middle school and educate our peers about the harmful effects of social media on mental health, the importance of maintaining your identity in a digital world, and how to cope with the pressures of maintaining an online persona.
We are also planning a Self Love Day. We will open this event to the community and invite all of our family and friends.