Hurry up and ‘like’ me: immediate feedback on social networking sites and the impact on adolescent girls

At an age identified as the period with the most intense focus on appearance, and where young girls are establishing their identity, it appears that social networking site (SNS) interactions are playing a pivotal role in determining what is, and what is not, socially endorsed. This paper draws on data obtained during five separate focus group interviews with a total of 28 middle school aged girls from three South Australian schools. Results indicated that feedback from other SNS users was central in the construction of identity and had an impact on self-esteem. It was found that immediate feedback was highly desired in response to images and comments posted on SNSs. It was also found that the immediacy of the feedback directly influenced the emotional state of the study participants. Understanding the impact of SNS communication, specifically pertaining to feedback, can be directly linked to the Australian Curriculum Health and Physical Education key ideas. Furthermore it is relevant to educative practices where schools are sites for technological advancements and positive reinforcement of identity and appearance.