Zoomers: videoconferencing, appearance concerns, and potential effects on adolescents

Purpose of review: The cessation of in-person teaching to reduce the spread of COVID-19 dramatically increased the use of videoconferencing for home learning among adolescents.

Recent findings: A consistent finding across studies assessing the relationship between videoconferencing and appearance concerns was that time spent focused on self-view was related to greater appearance concerns. Videoconferencing was associated with an increase in desire for cosmetic surgery and other nonsurgical treatments. Among those at risk of eating disorders, videoconferencing was associated with more appearance-management behaviours and less engagement in the video call. Research to date has been correlational and predominantly involved White, adult women in the USA and in Australia, leaving important gaps in our knowledge, especially around impacts on adolescents.

Summary: Given their vulnerability to appearance concerns, we encourage practitioners to speak to adolescents about their use of videoconferencing and how they can migitate the potential negative impacts on body image.