Happiness of girls and young women at record low

For the 15th year, Girlguiding has conducted a survey of 2000 girls (between the ages of 12-21) about how they feel about the specific and emerging pressures facing them today, and what these mean for their happiness and opportunities.

The results of 2023 survey showed that the mental health of girls and young women is at all time low.

The key takeaways:

• 89% of 7 to 21-year-olds feel generally worried or anxious, compared to 78% in 2016
• Only 17% feel very happy
• 62% of girls and young women have been criticised or had mean things said about how they look compared to 49% in 2016
• The number of girls who are happy with how they look has also fallen since 2009
• 81% of girls and young women aged 11-21 have experienced some form of threatening or upsetting behaviour online

(Girlguiding survey report, p.7)

stem4 strongly supports Girlguiding’s call for urgent government action to reverse the decline in wellbeing.

What changes need to take place?

• Schools to train all young people in consent in sexual relationships, but also media literacy for young men on the business models that underpin the activities of male influencers such as Andrew Tate, who promote misogyny.
• Even when young people know images have been altered, they compare themselves to those images; labelling images will not change that. Social media algorithms need to promote a normal range of body images and not just glamourised filtered images.
• Age-verification is not a magic bullet, and algorithms need to change so that they no longer push ‘what I eat in a day’ or weight losing tips.
• Media literacy needs to include opportunities to discuss and process what happens online, with trusted adults, and include signposting to information and resources that can support the development of a positive body image, the recognition of harassment and exploitation, and anxieties about climate change.
• Young women who have experienced trauma are signposted to support that helps them understand their experiences and understand when to ask for helped, and feel empowered in doing so.

Overall, we must work together to help young women feel a strong sense of worth and rebuild hope for their future. stem4 can contribute to this, and even assist recovery with its unique Worth Warrior App, which helps a young person build self worth and restore a positive body image.

To read more about how to understand social media algorithms