Transformative truths: discovering how social media influences the adultification of Black girls through a youth participatory action research (YPAR) approach

Abstract

This study explored how social media influences the adultification and sexualization of Black adolescent girls in a Southern city located in the United States. Using a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) framework and photovoice methodology, the study centers the perspectives and experiences of Black adolescent girls. Five Black high school girls participated as youth researchers and learned all stages of research through a series of structured workshops. Through photovoice, they learned how to capture and analyze photos, captions, and descriptions reflecting their lived experiences with social media as Black girls. Guided by a three-step analysis process and a secondary analysis, five themes emerged: (1) the juxtaposition of childhood innocence and adultification, (2) the lack of role models, (3) the impact of others’ voices, actions, and opinions, (4) Western beauty standards: us versus them, and (5) the overlooked impact on mental health. Findings highlighted how social media functions as a powerful tool that produces, reinforces, and internalizes harmful narratives about Black girlhood. At the same time, participants demonstrated critical awareness and resistance to these messages. Implications underscore the need for school and community-based interventions, including culturally responsive media literacy, educator training on adultification bias, and the integration of youth voices into decision-making processes. This study contributes to the literature by centering the perspectives of Black girls and illustrating the utility of photovoice within a YPAR framework. Future research should expand upon these findings by exploring longitudinal impacts and evaluating culturally-informed interventions designed to disrupt harmful social media influences and promote positive developmental outcomes.