Campaigner calls for more vigilance online to protect mental health
A Glasgow youth worker has called for more vigilance on social media in order to combat negative effects on mental health.
Laura Maginess, founder of female youth group Glasgow Girl’s Club, said that social media is a “double-edged sword” and poses risks to wellbeing if people do not develop good habits.
She said that photo-sharing apps like Instagram can create unrealistic expectations for young people, particularly in relation to body image.
She said of social media: “On the one hand, I love it! It has enabled me to create an inclusive community of supportive women, meet new friends and launch a business.
“But on the other hand, the super filtered images we see every day from some accounts are having a massively negative effect on mental health.”
The activist said that airbrushing is a common way for people to filter their images.
She said: “Remember that airbrushing is a now a major feature of many of the pictures you see and do to compare yourself to these unreal representations. It is not possible nor is it fair on yourself to do so.
“Social media imagery should represent the uniqueness and diversity of humans on this planet. Try to only follow accounts that make you happy.”
Her comments come after nutritionists warned that extreme diets being peddled on Instagram were making people ill.
Online influencer Yovana Mendoza Ayres, known to her 3.6 million Instagram and YouTube followers as Rawvana, reported becoming dangerously unwell as a result of a raw vegan diet that involved 25 fast days.
The British Nutrition Foundation told The Daily Telegraph: “Making big changes to your diet can increase the risk of not getting all the nutrients and energy you need to be healthy. If you’re thinking of making significant changes, speak to a professional who can help.”
Glasgow Girls Club is an organisation that works in Glasgow and internationally to promote the interests of girls and young women.
