Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
Culture

The Power of Self-Expression: Navigating Identity, Social Media, and Confidence as a Teenage Girl

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at SBU chapter.

Teenage Girls: An Age of Intense Feelings

This can be an age of very intense feelings that seem difficult to cope with. But it’s okay to have doubts or feel lost. Between homework, family life, fitting in with friends, never really knowing what to believe, and feeling lost trying to figure out where you’re going, all those demands mean it’s quite understandable that people aren’t sure who they really should be.

Even if finding one’s own identity may seem hard, the kind of growth and self-discovery that you’re doing now is full of hope. But also, in this lost sea of teenage years, there is great potential for self-expression, personal autonomy, and self-confidence.

For many young girls, figuring out who they really are is a mix of different factors. Whether it’s the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, the friends they go out with, or the dreams they have for the future, self-expression is how they communicate their individuality to others. However, it will be hard to do this if you are constantly beset by demands that not only try to shape but may even restrict who you ought to be.

The Impact of Social Media on Teenage Girls

Nowadays, social media has a huge impact on how young women view their world and themselves. With platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat, people constantly produce a narrow window into living that limits access only to celebrities and their lives or world. But for girls in their teens, this can easily lead to feelings of inadequacy. It’s easy to get absorbed in this idealized image—perfect skin, perfectly coiffed hair, and a never-a-care-in-their-life world—which always leaves them far from reality.

As a result, striving to meet these unrealistic demands may end up causing feelings of inferiority and distress as well as damaging self-esteem. It has been shown in various studies that the use of social media can lead to poor body image in girls, especially when they are bombarded with images that set impossible standards for beauty and appearance. But social media is not all bad by any means. Facebook can be used as a place for people to express themselves, connect with others about shared interests or problems rather than isolated, little islands of conflict and seek out communities where they feel at home with those who have similar aims and experiences.

Teens Girls are Changing Social Media

They are doing this not by copying others online but by choosing to share times of raw unattractiveness. A casual moment can be supplanted with long messages on body positivity and mental health awareness; suddenly, posts one place take on the color of wherever they’re posted next. The shift represents a potent reminder that it is always OK to be imperfect, for true beauty lies in simply acting yourself.

Building Confidence in the Midst of Expectations

Adolescence is the time when teenagers are trying to understand themselves. It’s also a time during which external pressures start piling on. Girl subjects are, to a large extent, determined by their families, the surrounding social norms, and other such factors. One can feel pressure from insignificance up to pop idols; people often need to “fit in.” Persisting under these influences is extremely wearying. However, from these struggles, teenage girls can find their potential and an honorable warrior spirit.

Confidence is not built in a single day. It takes time and practice to quiet that voice of guilt and really start believing in yourself. One of the keys to building up your self-confidence is learning how to create boundaries. Remember: it’s okay to say no when something doesn’t fit in with your values or to cut out toxic friendships. Surrounding yourself with people who support and uplift you is important, too. A strong network of friends can help you feel connected, especially when the outside world seems judgmentally critical.

Plus, self-care practices are critical for maintaining both mental and physical health. Making time to take care of yourself—whether it is writing in a journal or just collecting your thoughts, practicing mindfulness, working out, or simply taking an occasional breather—reinforces the message that your value doesn’t depend on anyone else’s yardstick.

The Self-Discovery Journey

The teenage years are full of new experiences, and it is in these that teenage girls learn who they really are. This is a time for trying different hobbies and interests. Which shapes identity? Whether it’s finding fashion, art, music, and sport or some other thing altogether that attracts your interest, each new interest further clarifies personal values or goals.

At the same time, girls are often confronted with trials. They may be troubled by a broken friendship, heavy homework burdens, or family hardship. While these hurdles are hard to take when they occur, they play an important role in self-discovery. Every challenge tells us something valuable about toughness and adaptability; it teaches us the virtue of sticking to our own guns will be rewarded in the end, even if for only remote reasons.

As a teenager, the years also witness many girls starting to take a voice in issues which concern them most, whether they are about nature or why can’t people just look down on one another for once—real mental illness? When girls feel this sense of purpose, it becomes their special strength. They are not afraid to speak their mind and go against the norm, especially if it does not accord with their values.

Embracing Your Journey

At the end of the day, to be a teenager is all about embracing self-discovery. You have to negotiate the complexities of social media and also fortify yourself against the external expectations laid upon you. Every girl’s path will be different. But one thing is for sure: true beauty comes from within; it is found in the wisdom to be authentic.

In the face of real pressures to conform, this era’s teenage girls are busy breaking traditional molds and deciding for themselves how to label their likes. They are learning to love themselves, following their feelings, and eschewing the concept of perfection, and in these ways, they develop new approaches to self-expression as well as enjoying emergent power. Their names will be remembered as inspirations for girls who are coming after them and for young women still unborn.

Dear teenage girl, no matter how you are feeling right now: keep shining, keep questioning, and keep YOU.

Bianca Gardner is a Freshman at SBU. She is a Student Ambassador, apart of an intramural badminton and basketball team, as well as a part of the Honors Program. Her passion and love for academic writing, has inspired her to dip into trying more freestyle writing pieces. This is her first year being involved in the Her Campus program, and she is looking forward to seeing what this club has to offer. Bianca is currently studying a Triple Certification in Education, with a concentration in English. Aside from Her Campus, Bianca finds joy in attending various on campus events, as well as studying. Having very goal oriented friends surrounding her has really impacted her focus and well-being in her academic career at SBU. Outside of her academic life, Bianca finds joy in being adventurous, spending time with friends, as well as participating in community service acts. Frequently in the nicer seasons, you would most likely find Bianca at the batting cage, or reading a book outside as that is her peace in all chaotic times. Coming from her small hometown, Jamestown, NY, has really taught her to cherish the little things in life, as well as to make something special out of so little.