RAB Proposal Paragraph – Belinda

My research question is “How does social media affect the mental health of younger girls?” This topic interests me because I feel like it’s an interesting topic knowing what the impact it has on mental health and what it does to the girls. Being able to know the effects it has on younger girls is something that I feel like it needs to be taken seriously and needs to be discussed more. It’s interesting to see how much social media really can do to a girl. And I feel like I can interview my girl friends to make this topic more interesting so I can compare their responses with what I researched. I already know that social media has negative impacts on mental health in younger girls because I, myself, know how it feels and understand how it is like to compare myself to other girls online. I also know and came to realize the difference between how I was before I was introduced to the social media world and then when I was more involved with social media, I just feel like I’ve become a different person. Lastly, I know that there are many young girls out there going through the same thing as I am when on social media. Some points that I plan to explore and find out more about are what my girl friends have to say about their experience with social media. I want to be able to hear their story whether they have positive or negative experiences. I want to hear what my friends have to say about the beauty standards that are being portrayed on social media. 

3 Sources

1. One Opinion / Editorial Piece: 

Englander, Elizabeth, and Meghan K. McCoy. “Analysis: There’s a Mental Health Crisis among Teen Girls. Here Are Some Ways to Support Them.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 24 Feb. 2023, www.pbs.org/newshour/health/analysis-theres-a-mental-health-crisis-among-teen-girls-here-are-some-ways-to-support-them. 

2. One News Report / Feature Article: 

Makwana, Bindal, Yaeeun Lee, Susannah Parkin, et al. “Magazine Issue 1 2018 / Issue 35.” The Inquisitive Mind, Jan. 2018, www.in-mind.org/article/selfie-esteem-the-relationship-between-body-dissatisfaction-and-social-media-in-adolescent. 

3. TedTalk: 

Parnell, Bailey. “Is Social Media Hurting Your Mental Health? | Bailey Parnell | Tedxryersonu.” YouTube, YouTube, 22 June 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czg_9C7gw0o&ab_channel=TEDxTalks. 

Transcript: 

S, Pangambam. “Bailey Parnell: Is Social Media Hurting Your Mental Health … – Singjupost.” Bailey Parnell: Is Social Media Hurting Your Mental Health? (Transcript), 16 Jan. 2018, www.singjupost.com/wp-content/uploads/wordpress-pdf-generator/1/is-social-media-hurting-your-mental-health-bailey-parnell-tedxryersonu.pdf.