Online and social media
Being online during lockdown has helped girls and young women stay connected, but also brought new pressures.
Online and social media
Being online during lockdown has helped girls and young women stay connected, but also brought new pressures.
Being online is full of ups and downs. Girls and young women say it’s helped them to keep in touch with friends and family during the pandemic and build stronger relationships.
But it’s also been a place where they’ve seen things that have upset them. From images that damage their body confidence, to mean comments and harassment, being online isn’t always a good experience for young women. And they want to see more done to protect them from that.
‘An influencer that inspires me is Jesy Nelson because she talks about body issues and uses her platform to talk about mental health’ — Girl,14-16
How you can help
Encourage open and honest conversation about girls’ online experiences. And check out our advice for keeping children safe online. You can also work through the Live smart skills builder with your unit - this covers staying safe online as well as in public spaces. Our Free Being Me peer education sessions help girls grow their body confidence and talk with each other about the messages they see about their appearance. As a Girlguiding member, our digital safeguarding procedures and e-learning will help you understand how digital tools can be used safely and securely.