The Jacket surveyed a sample of 368 students to explore the role of gender in the perception of social media among teens. Additionally, interviews gave students a space to share their views on social media and how it affects them personally.
[For girls], people are gonna expect things from you based on what you post. You gotta watch yourself, especially when you’re young.
Konani Chinn, she/they, IS junior
For men, there’s a lot of sexual insecurity. The way that algorithms are set up can feed you content that feed you really bad [misconceptions] of sex.
Travis Baldwin, he/him, CAS senior
“I think that social media has enforced (especially in our generation) the idea that we exist to be consumed, and if certain things aren’t documented, they didn’t really happen or they weren’t meaningful…. my sense of identity sometimes feels a little bit warped.”
Raquel Matthews, she/they, AC senior
For women it’s more beauty based, and for men it’s more performance based.
Travis Baldwin, he/him, CAS senior
You have to put out what you want people to see about you, but at a certain point, people are gonna expect certain things from you based on what you post. You gotta watch yourself, especially when you’re young
Girls are more interactive and fun [on social media] but that can turn toxic. I feel like guys don’t care as much.
Konani Chinn, she/they, IS junior
Charts by Eliot Hertenstein