Modern Mom Blog Post

As many moms have seen from their children’s social media, this year has been the rise of the selfie. Teens have mastered the art of capturing the perfect picture of themselves on their smartphones, but the growing trend has been linked to mental health conditions associated to a person’s obsession with looks. We have partnered with the American Psychology Association to spread awareness of this issue, and it is important for moms to know what is happening and how to help their teens.

In the UK, 19-year-old Danny Bowman developed a selfie addiction, often spending up to 10 hours a day taking photos of himself. Bowman was diagnosed with body dimorphic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, and the failure to take the perfect selfie, eventually lead to the teen’s suicide attempt.

Although Bowman is an extreme case, all teens and pre-teens are susceptible to a damaged self-esteem caused by social media.

Our research has found that teens use social media to get validation from their peers, but we have come up with five things parents can do to protect their teens:

1. Set a good example. Create technology free zones and times in your household.

Children see their parents’ nervous habits of constantly checking their phone or email, so parents must change those habits around their children.

2. Monitor their social media. Discuss online reputation and consequences of posts.

Once something is posted on the Internet it can never be fully deleted. It is important for your children to understand what is appropriate for social media, and how to manage their online privacy.

3. Promote offline interests.
Find out what your children are interested in and get them involved (sports, music classes, theater, ect.). Getting involved in activities allows children to set their own goals and builds their self-esteem. Most of the time, these activities also involve face-to-face interaction with their peers.

4. Easy access: Keep the computer centralized.
Parents should keep the computer in a location that it is easy to see what children are searching. It is also important to check the history and monitor the sites visited.

5. Teach them positive self statements.

Teach your children to focus on their strengths by pointing out the things they can do. Also, encourage your children just take one picture instead of criticizing themselves and taking multiple. 

Success Story

Content contributed by The New York Daily News

A British male teenager tried to commit suicide after he failed to take the perfect selfie.  Danny Bowman became so obsessed with capturing the perfect shot that he spent 10 hours a day taking up to 200 selfies. The 19-year-old lost nearly 30 pounds, dropped out of school and did not leave the house for six months in his quest to get the right picture. He would take 10 pictures immediately after waking up. He has been dubbed Britain's first selfie addict.

Frustrated at his attempts to take the one image he wanted, Bowman eventually tried to take his own life by overdosing, but was saved by his mom. "I was constantly in search of taking the perfect selfie and when I realized I couldn't, I wanted to die. I lost my friends, my education, my health and almost my life," he told The Mirror. He first started posting selfies on Facebook at age 15. After receiving online comments about his face, he became obsessed with looking perfect.

He has now been weaned off his iPhone addiction. Dr. David Veal, the   psychiatrist whose clinic treated the teenager, said the issue was not one of vanity, but a "mental health one," as Bowman suffered from body Dysmorphic disorder.

By the New YorkDaily News