The prevalence of online video platforms such as YouTube has given rise to a new type of celebrity - the "streamer" or "influencer." These individuals create videos that showcase their lives, interests, hobbies, and opinions for viewers who follow them. While some streamers discuss topics like gaming, cooking, makeup, fashion, or music, others focus on more personal subjects such as mental health, dating, relationships, and even sex. This trend has been shown to have both positive and negative effects on young people's perceptions of themselves and their peers.
One area where influencers and streamers can impact adolescents is body image. Many popular streamers promote unrealistic beauty standards through the way they dress, style their hair, apply makeup, or work out. They may also engage in activities that are perceived as sexy or sexualized, such as cosplay, role-play, or dance routines. Adolescents can become fixated on achieving these images, leading to self-esteem issues, eating disorders, or other mental health concerns.
If an influencer posts a photo of herself dressed in tight clothing with her figure emphasized, this can lead teenagers to feel pressured to look similarly attractive in order to be accepted by their peers.
Another aspect of streaming culture that affects adolescents is relational expectations. Streamers often portray themselves as being confident, independent, and self-sufficient, which can give teens the impression that they don't need anyone else in their life. This can result in feelings of loneliness or social isolation when they struggle to find someone to relate to offline. It can also perpetuate harmful stereotypes about masculinity or femininity, encouraging boys to act tough and girls to conform to traditional gender roles.
One study found that male streamers who engaged in macho behaviors were more likely to receive negative comments from viewers.
Influencers and streamers have been linked to shaping young people's sexual norms. Some may glamorize casual sex or promiscuity, while others promote monogamy or abstinence. Streamers often discuss their relationships openly online, offering intimate details about their partners and dating lives. Adolescents may begin to believe that certain types of behavior are acceptable or expected within their own relationships, even if those messages contradict what they've learned elsewhere. They may also start to judge themselves or others based on what they see on YouTube rather than considering other factors such as personal preferences or values.
It's important for parents and educators to help adolescents understand the impact of streaming culture on their mental health, body image, and relationships. They should encourage them to question what they see online, consider multiple perspectives, and seek out resources for support when needed. By doing so, we can help ensure that young people develop healthy attitudes towards self-acceptance, intimacy, and interpersonal communication - both online and offline.
How do influencers and popular streamers shape adolescents' sexual norms, relational expectations, and body image perceptions over time?
According to researchers who studied the effects of social media content on adolescent development, influencers and streamers are capable of shaping teens' sexual norms, relational expectations, and body image perceptions due to their highly influential status among young viewers (Kim et al. , 2019). The main mechanism of influence is through the exposure to role models who promote desirable behaviors that are often beyond realistic expectations of most people.