Star Tribune Highlights Journeys as Solution to Online Duplicity

Minnesota's Star Tribune reports that Social media allow adolescents and teens to be expressive, but a recent study by the Girl Scouts found that isn't always the case when girls go online. Surveying 1,000 teen girls who use social media, the organization found those with low self-esteem were more likely to project themselves through Facebook, Twitter or MySpace in ways that didn't match their personalities.

Of these girls, 22 percent portrayed themselves through social media as "sexy" and 35 percent presented themselves as "crazy." One in three said their online persona doesn't match who they really are. Trouble is, girls who try to boost their image in the virtual world suffer problems in the real world that they don't anticipate, said Sabrina Lee Sanchez, program implementation manager for Girls Scouts of the USA. Classmates might recognize exaggerations and use them as a source for teasing or bullying. Girls portraying themselves as sexually active or drinkers might be pressured into those activities. "They may get 'called' on these alternative identities or false impressions, potentially putting themselves in risky situations," Sanchez said.

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The Girls Scouts has increased training for its troops on social media, and just last month announced a program, called "It's Your Story -- Tell It," to boost girls' self-esteem. The initiative challenges girls to express themselves through media projects or art. "We know from our research that girls increase their self-esteem by trying new things," Sanchez said.

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The latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It! has its' very own comprehensive website that allows you to get involved in a number of awesome activities! Girl Scouts of the USA and Dove®, the leading personal care brand, partner to deliver Girl Scout leadership and self-esteem programming to millions of girls nationwide and abroad with the latest Girl Scout leadership journey It's Your Story-Tell It!.

Webinar Alert! Trends in Teen Communication and Social Media Use

Join us this Wednesday, February 9, for "Trends in Teen Communication and Social Media Use: What’s Really Going On Here?" -presented by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and the Girl Scout Research Institute. Register here!

Online social networking is indispensable to young people today, but what do we really know about their communication patterns and online lives? What are their preferred technologies for staying in touch and how are they representing themselves on sites such as Facebook and MySpace?

For instance, did you know:

• Ninety-three percent of teens use the Internet, and more than three-quarters of these teens use social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace?
• Girls tend to downplay several positive characteristics of themselves online, like their smartness, kindness, and efforts to be a good influence?
• Fully 92% of girls would give up all their social networking friends to keep their best in-person?

Join us for an informative webinar with experts from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and the Girl Scout Research Institute. You’ll hear research findings from two new studies that address the above questions and much more! To register for this free event, please click here. Late last year, The Girl Scout Research Institute’s new study titled "Who's That Girl? Image and Social Media", continues to gained significant media traction including articles in Live Science, WebMD, Technorati, Ms. Magazine, Lemondrop, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Mom Logic, Medicinenet and many more.

The nationwide survey, which included more than 1,000 girls ages 14 through 17, finds that girls downplay several positive characteristics of themselves online, most prominently their intelligence, kindness and efforts to be a positive influence. In person, girls say they come across as smart (82 percent), kind (76 percent) and a good influence (59 percent), whereas online, girls consider themselves fun (54 percent), funny (52 percent) and social (48 percent). Girls with low self-esteem are more likely to admit their social networking image does not match their in-person image (33 percent vs. 18 percent of girls with high self-esteem) and are also more likely to claim that the image they portray online is sexy (22 percent vs. 14 percent) and crazy (35 percent vs. 28 percent).

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For daily updates on Girl Scouts in the news, follow the Girl Scouts Blog. Join in the conversation and follow us on Twitter @girlscouts and Facebook.

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Pic via I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER.

"Who's That Girl" Continues to be a Hit!

The Girl Scout Research Institute’s new study titled "Who's That Girl? Image and Social Media", continues to gain significant media traction. This week’s round–up includes articles in Live Science, WebMD, Technorati, Ms. Magazine, Lemondrop, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Mom Logic, Medicinenet and many more.

The nationwide survey, which included more than 1,000 girls ages 14 through 17, finds that girls downplay several positive characteristics of themselves online, most prominently their intelligence, kindness and efforts to be a positive influence. In person, girls say they come across as smart (82 percent), kind (76 percent) and a good influence (59 percent), whereas online, girls consider themselves fun (54 percent), funny (52 percent) and social (48 percent). Girls with low self-esteem are more likely to admit their social networking image does not match their in-person image (33 percent vs. 18 percent of girls with high self-esteem) and are also more likely to claim that the image they portray online is sexy (22 percent vs. 14 percent) and crazy (35 percent vs. 28 percent).

In contrast, the vast majority of girls prefer face-to-face communication. Ninety-two percent would give up all of their social networking friends if it meant keeping their best friend. The study also finds that social networking provides an avenue for girls to maintain better relationships and feel more connected to causes they care about. Fifty-six percent of girls agree that social networking helps them feel closer to their friends, and 36 percent think that social networks have increased the quality of their relationships. Fifty-two percent of girls have gotten involved in a cause they care about through a social network. Read all of the findings here.

Have you read the findings yet? If so, do you find them interesting?

Who's That Girl? New Findings About Girls Online From The Girl Scout Research Institute

The increased exposure to social media puts teenage girls in a confusing situation where a girl’s image is not always what it seems, as nearly 74 percent of girls believe other girls their age use social networking sites to make themselves “cooler than they really are,” according to a national survey, Who's That Girl: Self Image in the 21st Century, released by Girl Scouts of the USA.

The nationwide survey, which included more than 1,000 girls ages 14 through 17, finds that girls downplay several positive characteristics of themselves online, most prominently their intelligence, kindness and efforts to be a positive influence. In person, girls say they come across as smart (82 percent), kind (76 percent) and a good influence (59 percent), whereas online, girls consider themselves fun (54 percent), funny (52 percent) and social (48 percent). Girls with low self-esteem are more likely to admit their social networking image does not match their in-person image (33 percent vs. 18 percent of girls with high self-esteem) and are also more likely to claim that the image they portray online is sexy (22 percent vs. 14 percent) and crazy (35 percent vs. 28 percent). According to Kimberlee Salmond, senior researcher at the Girl Scout Research Institute:

“Adults and teens alike need greater understanding about the ways girls
represent themselves and communicate on social networking sites... If girls are
portraying themselves differently online than they are in person, this can
impact their identity, sense of self and relationships.”

The Girl Scout survey also sheds light on the fact that a majority of girls understand their emotional safety and reputations are at risk online, yet 50 percent admit to not always being as careful as they should be online. Sixty-eight percent of girls have had a negative experience on a social networking site, such as having someone gossip about them or being bullied. Furthermore, many girls are concerned that they won’t get into their college of choice (42 percent), will miss a job opportunity (40 percent) and will get into trouble with parents and teachers (40 percent).

In contrast, the vast majority of girls prefer face-to-face communication. Ninety-two percent would give up all of their social networking friends if it meant keeping their best friend. The study also finds that social networking provides an avenue for girls to maintain better relationships and feel more connected to causes they care about. Fifty-six percent of girls agree that social networking helps them feel closer to their friends, and 36 percent think that social networks have increased the quality of their relationships. Fifty-two percent of girls have gotten involved in a cause they care about through a social network.

Do you have thoughts about the online lives of teenage girls?