In the digital age, where motherhood seems to be exhibited through filters of perfection, a recent study sheds light on the consequences that motherhood influencers, also known as ‘momfluencers’, have on new mothers. According to research published in the Journal of Broadcasting
This study, carried out by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, investigated the impact of the online culture of ‘momfluencers’ and its effect on the mothers who consume their content. The results suggest that the glamorous and perfect image of motherhood – with immaculately clean homes, always happy children and impeccably groomed mothers – can cause a significant increase in anxiety and envy, especially among new mothers.
Researchers surveyed 464 new mothers with the aim of identifying whether there were particular characteristics that made certain mothers more susceptible to the negative feelings provoked by the content of ‘momfluencers’. They found that those with a higher social comparison orientation suffered the most severe negative effects, being more likely to internalize online content and feel less confident in their own parenting abilities.
“We all have this tendency to compare, but some of us are more inclined to compare than others,” wrote lead researcher Ciera Kirkpatrick. This finding is crucial as it allows health experts to intervene in time before this type of content causes negative impacts.
Another interesting result of the study is that the transition from photo to video content on TikTok and Reels has made the perfect posture more difficult for influencers, as it is more difficult for ‘momfluencers’ to stage and edit the videos exactly as they want. In videos, it’s harder to make sure you have everything under control, which has led to more efforts to show realistic depictions of motherhood.
The study points out the potential dangers of romanticizing motherhood on social media, but also offers hope toward a more authentic and less harmful representation. For new mothers, the message is clear: as you navigate digital content, it’s crucial to remember that comparisons can steal the joy from your own personal experience of motherhood.
