The Dove Self-Esteem Project announces new actions to address the current rise in youth mental health issues linked to social media use with the Campaign for Kids Online Safety. 

 

While social media can be a force for good, it is also one of the biggest threats to young people's mental health today. Presently, social media is primarily left to self-regulation for youth and their guardians, and studies show its inherent link to negative youth mental wellness outcomes. In fact, new 2023 Dove Self-Esteem Project Research shows 8 in 10 youth mental health specialists say social media is fueling a mental health crisis. 

 

Additional statistics from the 2023 Dove Self-Esteem Project Research for Kids Online Safety found 80% of young people believe that people their age are addicted to social media; more than 50% of young people say social media makes them and their peers feel anxious; 7 in 10 young people (ages 10-17) have been exposed to content encouraging weight loss/body transformation on social media; 76% of young people in the US say social media can make young people want to change their appearance; 51% of young people (ages 14-17) have been exposed to content encouraging restricted eating or disordered eating behaviors; over half of youth mental health specialists say exposure to harmful beauty content on social media can lead to physical consequences like disordered eating or self-harm; over half (58%) of American parents believe the only way to get social media platforms to change is to implement legislation in the space.

Since 2004, Dove has been building body confidence and self-esteem in young people through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, and to-date, has educated more than 94 million youth globally. In 2023, the Dove Self-Esteem Project is evolving its mission to help make social media a more positive place by standing for safer social media design with the Campaign for Kids' Online Safety.

 

“Dove has a long-term commitment to bringing positive change in beauty and taking action towards making social media a more positive place with campaigns like #NoDigitalDistortion, Reverse Selfie/Selfie Talk, and #DetoxYourFeed,” said Alessandro Manfredi, chief marketing officer for Dove. “While certain aspects of social media can promote creativity and connection for young people, data has shown toxic content online is harming the mental health of today's youth. If there isn't real change, young people will continue to pay with their wellbeing.” “We have a responsibility to act and support a safer environment on social media, helping protect young people's mental health. This means going beyond individual interventions to drive systemic change.”

Despite bi-partisan efforts from lawmakers to advance legislation that protects kids' exposure to things like harmful content and addictive algorithms, progress is not being made fast enough, according to Dove officials.

 

The Dove Self-Esteem Project is partnering with Cultural Icon & People's Advocate Lizzo, Common Sense Media and ParentsTogether Action to advance the 2023 Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which supports updated design standards, safeguards and tools that protect kids' overall experiences online, and would limit their exposure to toxic beauty content proven to erode their self-esteem. 

 

The KOSA bill outlines more transparency on social media design and black box algorithms, including: 

 

Disabling addictive product features and opt-out of algorithmic recommendations;

 

Creating a duty for social media platforms to prevent and mitigate harms to minors, such as content promoting of self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse and sexual exploitation;

 

Requiring social media platforms to perform an annual independent audit assessing risks to minors; and 

Providing experts access to critical data to foster research regarding harms to the safety and well-being of minors.

 

“Over the past decade, we have witnessed a youth mental health crisis —skyrocketing suicide rates, hospitalizations for self-harm, and depression among children and teens,” said Jim Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media. “Real change requires partnership, advocacy, and a commitment to do the work on the ground.  We are proud to partner with Dove to advance our mission to require platforms to make safety the default and ensure social media is a safer place for today's generation.”

To drive awareness of this issue and call on lawmakers to act now, the Dove Self-Esteem Project convened voices of authority in ethical technology and youth mental health for a live event in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 11, “A Call for Kids' Online Safety: A Forum for Change,” centering youth and parents to share their stories. Sharers were supported by influential voices, including Cultural Icon & People's Advocate, Lizzo, CEO of Common Sense Media, Jim Steyer, Digital Media Expert, Dr. Safiya U. Noble, and Stanford Psychiatrist & Social Design Expert Dr. Nina Vasan. 

 

“Social media is supposed to be a place where people can express themselves and be a source for beauty confidence, not anxiety, that's why I'm partnering with Dove again and calling on platforms to do more to make social media safe for young people,” said Cultural Icon and People's Advocate, Lizzo. “Seeing the negative impact social media is having on youth mental health today is devastating and has to stop. Join us and use your voice to help make change.”

 

As part of the Campaign for Kids' Online Safety, Dove is releasing a new campaign film, “Cost of Beauty: A Dove Film,” chronicling the real story of a young person whose mental health has been impacted by social media. The film, intended to illustrate the scale and impact of the issue and drive urgent action to protect the next generation, was developed in consultation with mental health and disordered eating experts at National Alliance for Eating Disorders and Project HEAL.