Samantha Vigil, second year PhD student in the Human Development and Media Lab, testified before the Assembly Standing Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection on April 23, 2024 in favor of AB 2657. This bill is one of California's legislators' many efforts to regulate social media use for minors. Samantha studies adolescent social media use as it relates to mental health and well-being. A large portion of her research focuses on informing and examining public policy in this area.
The little boy, about 7 years old, almost disappeared inside the virtual reality headset, yet the way he was holding up his hands showed he knew exactly what to do. A laptop screen showed what he was seeing: digital outlines of hands manipulating Tetris-like blocks. A hand turned a block to make it fit, then picked up another.
Drew and Christie talk cyberbullying, body image, privacy breaches, regulatory safeguards, and uncovering predatory behaviors on podcast episode 35, From Scrolling to Cyberbullying: How Social Media is Impacting Our Kids.
It's easy to understand why children love Disney princesses. Princesses are best friends with cute animals. They sing and wear beautiful dresses. There is magic and adventure and talking snowmen.
Many adults are worried about Disney princesses, especially because they tend to be unrealistically thin. The last thing parents want is for their children to feel their bodies are bad because the movies they watch showcase impossibly thin role models.
by Drew Cingel, Allyson Snyder, Jane Shawcroft, Samantha Vigil
To adult viewers, educational media content for children, such as “Sesame Street” or “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” may seem rather simplistic. The pacing is slow, key themes are often repeated and the visual aspects tend to be plain.
In the last decade, parenting has taken on a new dimension—technology. Technology has become a normal part childhood, and many parents feel the pressure of helping their children develop a healthy relationship with screens.
Moana, Anna, Elsa, Cinderella and the list goes on. Disney princesses have been a significant part of childhood, ever since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered in theaters in 1937. However, alongside their popularity, some parents wonder what effect these images of young women could have on how their children feel about themselves.
Parents for years have been concerned that the cartoon curves and thin waists of Disney princesses would impose unrealistic body ideals onto kids who idolize Ariel, Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine.
But new research from UC Davis suggests that it might be time for them to make like Elsa, and “Let it Go.”
As it turns out, kids with a favorite princess had more confidence in their bodies and were more likely to be creative in how they played, according to the study.
But now, researchers from the University of California in Davis and Brigham Young University have determined that having a favorite Disney princess can actually improve a child’s body image.
