Nearly half of oldsters say their household ‘wants’ to look good for social media
More than four in 10 parents admit that they feel a need to appear ‘perfect’ on social media platforms and feel pressured into maintaining their image
Six in 10 parents feel under pressure to appear ‘perfect’. A poll of 1,000 mums and dads with children aged one to 10 found 25% admitted to really struggling with the high expectations that come with being a parent.
Many said social media is partly to blame, with 44% admitting they can’t help but feel a need to appear perfect on these platforms.
Parents who feel pressure from social media believe they are expected to always keep a spotless home (51%) and have a seamless work-life balance (51%). They also describe struggling to provide a well-balanced and nutrient-filled diet for their little ones.
The research was commissioned by Arla, which has launched a grab-and-go version of its Big Milk enriched with vitamins D, A, and iron to support busy parents on the go.
Arla spokesperson Stuart Ibberson said: “Parents face a lot – both in real life and on their screens. From meal prep to playtime, the constant comparison can make people feel like they’re falling short.
“We wanted to offer something simple that fits into everyday life, not adds to the pressure.”
Despite the pressures felt, 59% of all respondents argued there is no rule book for parenting and 71% believe mums and dads need to be kinder to themselves.
Four in 10 parents also said they feel ‘proud’ on a daily basis, while nearly the same amounts report feeling tired, busy and stressed.
When it comes to feeling like they need to appear ‘perfect’ on social media, Mums feel the pressure more, with 39% feeling this way compared to just 5% of dads.
Social media is having an undoubted impact on the newest generation of parents.
The typical parent polled spends an average of two hours and four minutes on social platforms every day, equating to more than 45,000 minutes a year, painting an unrealistic picture of what parenting should look like.
Meanwhile, 79% would like to see more content on social media which is realistic and helps them feel more understood as a parent.
From openly showing parenting ‘fails’ (42%) to honest depictions of the morning routine (42%) and celebrating everyday small wins rather than only major milestones (39%) – this is the type of content that mums and dads want to see more of.
Some of the most common struggles among parents included balancing work and family life (46%) or finding time for self-care (40%).
Three in ten parents (29%) struggle to ensure their child has a varied, nutritious diet, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
Stuart Ibberson from Arla added: “The research shows that most parents are facing the same challenges, even if they go unspoken.
“What we’re hearing is that parents want practical solutions that fit into real life, not added pressure to get everything ‘just right’.
“It’s also important that we celebrate real parenting wins along the way too – those small, everyday victories that go unnoticed but make a big difference.”
TOP 10 ‘ONLINE’ PARENTING STRUGGLES:
- Expected to have a clean, presentable home
- Expected to show a perfect work-life balance
- Expected to show I can ‘do it all’
- Expected to have a perfectly behaved child
- Expected to not show any struggles
- Expected to spend enough time outdoors with my child
- Expected to give my child all the right nutrients
- Expected to be good at creative play (i.e. messy play)
- Expected to cook aesthetically pleasing, healthy meals
- Expected to show my children looking pristine
