The ever-popular selfie gives teens a confidence boost and social media is the ideal platform to broadcast themselves to the world. So much so, that:
- 65% of teenage girls reported that seeing their selfies on social media actually boosts their confidence.
- 40% of all teens say social media helps them present their best face to the world.
- At least 81 percent of teens, ages 12-17, use social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, according to recent findings from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, with Instagram especially popular among selfie-loving teenage girls.
On other hand, many teens have mixed feelings about “Selfie Esteem”. Social media can also make them feel bad about themselves.
- 55 percent of girls and 34 percent of teen boys say “overall, social media makes me feel more self-conscious about my appearance.”
- 58 percent of teen girls say “seeing pictures of other people living glamorous-looking lives on social media makes me feel bad about myself.” Only 19 percent of teen boys have the same reaction.
- 30 percent of all teens say social media means they always need to be “camera-ready.”
Creating A Camera-Ready Smile
With so much emphasis is being placed on looking good on social media and during personal interaction with peers, friends, and family, it’s no wonder we are seeing so many adolescents and teens wearing braces on every corner to improve their smile and self-esteem.
Years ago, it wasn’t cool to be seen wearing braces. Today, it is accepted in all social, academic, and business environments, especially with more aesthetic braces and orthodontic alternatives that are now available. While metal braces are still the most popular, colored elastics are an option to switch up your look and ceramic brackets that are tooth-colored and barely visible give young patients more confidence during treatment.
Invisalign, an alternative to fixed braces, is also popular with teens who don’t want to be seen wearing braces and are mature enough to handle the responsibilities that go hand in hand with removable appliances. Aligners must be worn 20 hours per day and changed every two weeks, taking care to avoid loss or breakage.
Contact our office to schedule a complimentary smile exam. Find out first-hand how we can help you, or your child, achieve a healthy “camera-ready smile” that is so important in the minds of adolescents and teens today.