A study published indicates that unrealistic representations of motherhood on social media, often by “momfluencers,” can worsen feelings of anxiety and envy among new mothers. Researchers surveyed 464 new mothers and found that those with a higher tendency to compare themselves to others were more negatively affected by these unrealistic posts, leading to decreased confidence in their own parenting abilities. Another study found that a third of mothers sometimes feel like “bad moms,” with social media exacerbating pressure to look or act a certain way. These findings contribute to the growing recognition of the negative mental health impacts of social media, extending beyond new mothers to impact various demographics.
