How has social media impacted the adolescent experience?

Navigating social media whilst also trying to navigate the complexities of your own adolescent identity is no easy task. With tumblr and other social platforms replacing the teenage diary, many would argue that teen girls and young women are more open about their feelings than ever before. However, as social media becomes less of a mirror for our actual lives and more of a reflection of our idealistic best selves, the internet is becoming a more complicated place for girls growing up.

“It is almost abnormal for girls nowadays not to edit their photo in any way before uploading it to social media. All of us have an online presence that isn't totally us, but doing this stuff at such a young age is that much more toxic because you haven't fully figured out who you are as a person yet,” creative director Izzy Whiteley says.

Her new project, ‘That’s What She Said’, produced in collaboration with photographer Jessica Gwyneth, aims to provide young women with an open forum to discuss their own insecurities, gender, and growing up. Gwyneth and Whiteley travel to youth clubs, recording sessions and teen bedrooms, photographing young women in their own environment. The pair then ask each participant for a handwritten passage to accompany their (untouched) portrait, “There are constant messages and media coverage about what adults think is affecting young girls but it is so rare we hear from the girls themselves.”

“Young girl’s social media alter egos have become so removed from who they really are that their relationship with their true selves becomes more and more negative”– Izzy Whiteley

And although it’s undeniable that social media can negatively impact how we feel about ourselves, it’s also hard to deny the positive effects of over sharing, “the Internet has allowed information, ideas and campaigning to be shared so easily that fighting for equality in everything from gender, sexuality and race has never had more impact.” Away from the constant scroll of Instagram and the surrealism of DIY retouching apps, teen girls are using online resources to become increasingly politicised. “The difference between in knowledge between me and them, and their intelligence on topics like gender and sexuality is incredible”, says Whiteley. “The overall aim is to create an open line of communication between young girls and society. It is ultimately about giving girls a voice away from judgement of peers, teachers and parents.”

Whiteley argues that despite a resurgence in popularity for feminist thought and opinion, the current face of commercialised feminism is viewed by teenagers as, “not really cool and not inspiring to be part of. Commercial fashion often uses the umbrella of feminism to sell. We want to expose what it is really like to be a girl now.” But their disenchantment is no reason to assume these girls are disengaged. With hand written insights such as, “it is almost like the movements for the people that are oppressed make the non oppressed feel oppressed because they don’t have the loudest voice”, these girls are demonstrating that they’re infact more clued up than ever before.

Keep up with 'That’s What She Said' on Instagram