A new report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) sheds light on the detrimental effects of social media and digital technology on the mental health, education, and career choices of girls around the world, including Nigeria. In the Global Education Monitoring Report 2024: Gender Report — Technology on Her Terms, it was found that digital tools have the potential to improve education but also come with risks like privacy breaches and cyberbullying. These risks disproportionately impact girls, affecting their self-esteem, body image, well-being, learning, and career choices in negative ways.
The report discusses how technology can have a double-edged impact on educational access and outcomes, with its effectiveness depending on the way it is utilized. Despite the benefits of technology, the report highlights obstacles like biased social standards and cultural divides that may impede fair access to technology. UNESCO warns that stereotypes about girls being more susceptible to online dangers may result in regulations that restrict their use of digital tools, widening gender gaps. It also cautions about the harmful impacts of spending too much time on social media, which can negatively affect girls’ self-worth and body confidence.
There is a gender disparity in social media usage.
Access to technology for girls may be limited due to the belief that they are more at risk online, leading to restrictive practices that hinder their engagement with digital tools. The report highlighted the common association between internet use and potential risks to children, such as exposure to harmful content like porn, which could have negative effects on mental health and contribute to issues like sexism and sexual violence. Research indicates that there is a gender disparity in social media usage, with girls typically investing more time on these platforms compared to boys. Unfortunately, this increased participation is linked to a decline in overall mental health and happiness.
It was reported that this is partly due to the fact that social media platforms, driven by algorithms, contribute to the perpetuation of social inequalities and harmful gender stereotypes, especially impacting the well-being of young girls. The effect of social media on body image has been extensively studied across different age ranges, showing that users often have more concerns about their appearance than those who do not use these platforms, indicating the wide-reaching influence of social media. According to the report, on average, girls between the ages of 16 and 24 around the world spend approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes daily on social media, while boys in the same age group spend about 2 hours and 32 minutes on social platforms.
Girls seem to be more affected by social media than boys.
This alarming discrepancy in the impact of social media on girls highlights the urgency for increased awareness and actions to minimize the harmful consequences. Studies show that pre-teen girls, high school, and college students who are active on Facebook tend to have more body image issues compared to those who do not use the platform. Research conducted by Facebook reveals that 32% of teenage girls admitted that Instagram had a negative influence on their body image when they were already feeling insecure.
Social media tends to be a frequent source of victimization for girls, with boys typically encountering cyberbullying more often in video games and text messages on their mobile phones. According to research, girls seem to be more affected by social media than boys when it comes to their well-being. Cyberbullying was discovered to have a more negative impact on girls’ well-being compared to insufficient sleep or lack of exercise. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that girls in Europe are more likely to feel lonely and face greater mental health challenges than boys.
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While technology offers much potential in improving education and expanding opportunities, particularly for girls and women in Nigeria and around the world, it must be accompanied by strategic interventions and policies, along with vigilant oversight, to establish secure learning environments and uphold equal rights for every student. This is vital in order to avoid worsening current gender disparities and to ensure that all learners reap the benefits of technological advancements equally. The focus of the report is on the importance of improving education and implementing regulations to safeguard young girls in the digital realm, as outlined in UNESCO’s Guidelines for Digital Platform Governance.
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