Social Media and Its Influence on Teenage Girls' Physical Activity

Introduction:

We are living in the digital era. Our lives are controlled and influenced by the internet. Around 5.5 billion people around the world use the internet. However, the incidence of internet use is more popular among teenagers. Also, teenagers are more attracted to social media sites for various purposes. Almost 70 percent of teens have at least one social media account. That is why social media can be an important tool for increasing social media use among teenagers.

What Are the Physical Changes Seen in Teenage Girls?

In teenage girls, a lot of physical changes are seen. These changes are due to the change in the hormonal balance and hormonal secretion in the body. Puberty or adolescence is a natural physical stage in a girl's life where she undergoes sexual maturation. Typically, most girls begin puberty between the ages of eight and 14. The emergence of primary and secondary sexual characteristics marks this phase. Primary sexual characteristics encompass the growth and development of reproductive organs, the initiation of the menstrual cycle, and the release of eggs. On the other hand, secondary sexual characteristics involve the growth of breasts, the emergence of body hair in various areas, and alterations in vocal tone. The stages of development can be divided into three stages. In the first stage, or thelarche, the development of breasts is seen. In the second stage, pubarche, the development of pubic hair takes place. After two years of the appearance of pubic hair, axillary hair will begin to grow. This stage usually appears six months after the appearance of the first phase. Menarche, which is the third phase, is characterized by the onset of the menstrual cycle. This phase is influenced by the action of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the luteinizing hormone (LH). Apart from the physical changes, a lot of psychological changes are also seen among girls during puberty.

What Is the Role of Social Media in Teenage Girls' Lives?

The social media plays a vital role in encouraging teenage girls’ lives. Such influence may happen in various ways, such as

1. Social media is an important tool. Videos, posts, blogs, and reels are essential tools for knowledge. These sources can be important sources of information regarding teenage sexual changes. Social media can explain the psychological and physical changes attributed to adolescents.

2. School sex education is an important tool and method of educating teenage girls about their sexual well-being. However, in many countries, school sex education is not available. Also, due to cultural, religious, and economic complications, a large number of girls around the world are deprived of school sex education. In such cases, social media is a useful tool to address issues related to sexual well-being.

3. During teenage a lot of girls go through different psychological changes. Such changes often cause complications like anxiety, depression, and stress. Social media may be a useful source for them, as it may provide answers regarding such changes.

4. Diet and nutritional well-being are also essential for teenagers. Deficiency in these factors leads to a lot of teenage sexual or gynecological problems. Also, these factors may influence the future physical well-being of the body. Through social media, one can get a lot of information regarding these factors.

What Is the Role of Physical Activity in Teenage Girls' Lives?

Physical activity plays a crucial role in teenage life. Regular physical activity and exercise have the following benefits for teenage girls’ lives:

1. Exercise and physical activities are known to increase blood supply throughout the body. Also, it is known for an increase in the oxygen supply to different parts of the body. An increased blood supply to the brain, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland is known to influence the secretion of different pituitary hormones in the body. These hormones regulate the secretion of sexual hormones in the body. As a result, the biological clock, which causes the proper onset of puberty and changes in the body during teenage years, remains unchanged.

2. Hormonal changes and changes in physiological functions also influence the metabolic activity in the body. Regular physical activities help regulate the metabolism of the body. As a result, the equilibrium between the ions and the minerals remains checked.

3. A lot of girls in third-world countries suffer from complications like poor bone density, loss of muscle mass, and poor neuromuscular activity. Regular exercises can improve bone mineral density, muscle mass, and neuromuscular activity. Also, daily physical activity can improve the functionality of the heart and the lungs.

4. During puberty, a lot of changes are seen in our immune system due to physical and hormonal changes. Daily physical activities can boost our immunity. Also, they may prevent diseases like asthma, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and menstrual abnormalities.

5. Daily physical activities are known to influence levels of hormones like serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin. These hormones positively affect psychology and can be useful in preventing teenage psychological issues.

What Is the Correlation between Social Media and Teenage Girls' Physical Activity?

Social media is full of information. This information may positively influence the minds of teenage girls and encourage them to do regular physical activities. Through social media, one can gather knowledge about different exercises and physical activities that are suitable for them. Also, they can learn different types of exercises on their own. In some countries, due to social, economic, and cultural issues, it is difficult for girls to go outside and participate in different physical activities. In those cases, social media is a useful tool to teach them about Indoor physical activities. Also, through social media, they can communicate with the outside world and share their thoughts and ambiguities with others. Different social media platforms also provide subscription-based models or personalized training programs. Such concepts are also becoming popular day by day.

What Are the Things Should Keep in Mind Regarding Social Media?

Social media is a useful tool for learning physical activities or gathering knowledge. However, certain precautions should be maintained;

1. Parents should monitor their children's social media activities.

2. It is the duty of the parents and the school teacher to inform the girls about the authenticity of social media information and the ways to gather authentic information.

3. Only verified and government sites should be trusted.

4. Parents should protect their girls from explicit content and social media misuse.

Conclusion:

During the teenage years, a lot of changes in girls' bodies are observed. These changes are attributed to hormonal changes in the body. Needless to say, exercise is important for teenage girls to keep. Social media is an important tool to gather knowledge about different exercises. Also, social media can encourage girls to do regular physical activities.