Easy access to social media and popular culture are major factors leading to young girls developing negative body images. It is also a major factor in women of all age groups developing native social skills. In recent years the growth of technology has allowed everyone to easily access the internet. With this growth, social media and popular culture have flourished in this new technology age. Since this boom in technology kids can access the internet at younger and younger ages. A recent study has shown that young girls as young as the age of five have started to developed self-esteem issues because of the images that are displayed throughout the internet (Heubeck). Negative body images, that can be easily accessed from the internet, are producing negative effects such as self-esteem issues, negative social skills, and stunting young girl's mental development. 

`First, my personal interest for this topic stems from personal experiences with viewing negative body images and negative socials skills on social media. I want to understand how young girls can develop such major self-esteem issues at such a young age. I also want to understand how teen girls develop such negative social skills through social media. I am hoping that the research that I conduct could possible help young girls understand that what they see is not reality and they should focus on being the truest self.

Second, as a young woman who has lived in every age group I have personal experience with all level of social media and popular culture. I have taken notice at how I have developed and I know that social media is such a negative factor to a young women self-esteem. If it had not had been for positive tangible role models in my life I would have continued to look negatively on myself. Also I have severed a mentor to young girls and I have experienced how easy it can be to change a young girl's outlook on themselves. The experiences I have had allowed me to experiences both sides of this argument. 

The first evidence used for this research topic is, Elizabeth Heubeck's article "Helping Girls with Body Image" for WebMD in 2006. The article discusses the power of media and technology on a young girl's self-esteem. It also discusses the options for improving young girl's self-esteem. The article notes that parents need to have an open dialog with their young girls about images in media. It also notes that sports are a good outlet as long as the sport focuses on the game and not the appearance of women.  This article promotes many of the idea for positive change among this issue. The author writes with the intention of helping young girls. The author has writing many article for WebMD and for other major publications. The author does not seem to promote bias on either side of the argument. Within her writing she displays the positives of a change and also the negatives to a solution. This article proves many issues within the thesis and provides many solutions on how to help promote positive change. 

Similarly, in an article titled "Sports: A Powerful Strategy to Advance Women's Rights" written by Astrid Aarjes in 2011, written for the Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, Aarjes discusses the importance of sport on the development for young girls. Aarjes' main points are about discussing the importance for young girls to understand they have the right to play sports. It also discusses the importance of the development of young girl's self-esteem once in a sports program. This article shows the positive effects that can happen to young girl once she has become involved with a sports program. This article promotes major changes to current systems to help the development of young girls. This author founded a program called Women Win. She is also the executive director of the program. Her career has been focused on the gender and human rights sector. She has worked with the United Nations on Violence Against Women and Human Rights issues. Aarjes' has spent her career helping others. 

Likewise, an article titled "Female Body Image and the Mass Media: Perspectives on How Women Internalize the Ideal Beauty Standard" written for Westminster College by Kasey L. Serdar defines the Female Body image and then defines the standards seen in the media. Serdar describes the "ultra-thin" idea seen in media, and how young girls see it as the standard for beauty. This article also lists two theories to explain why this happens, the Social Comparison theory and Cultivation theory. Kasey Serdar is a licensed Psychologist and Ph.D. She has done research in body image issues, depression and psychotherapy. She has also done research with eating disorders. Serdar is currently in privet practice at Chase Brexton Health Care. Her education and work prove that she has the knowledge for this subject. 

Undoubtedly, this thesis is completely arguable, the other side of this argument is that social media and popular culture are accurate images for young girls and they do not produce self-esteem issues. Some of the disagreements may be that Serdar's theories hold no validity. Another disagreement might be that one cannot apply sports based programs to every situation. Some young girls might not another type of program that build on positive images. If I were to revise my research question and thesis statement, I would want to include both theories listed in Serdar's article and included the question of "Do sports based programs truly help develop positive images?". These are just some of the challenges and opportunities I could take to this paper.  

In conclusion, easy access to social media and popular culture do cause young girls to develop both self-esteem issues and social issues.  This topic is very important because as a woman who has grown up in each age group I know how important it is to have an important role model. All sources found so far for this argument discusses the negatives of media and some discuss some solutions. The topic itself is completely arguable and the source have little to no controversy. Many young girls need positive role models and anyone can be that role model for a young girl.

