Social media gives kids unrealistic Christmas expectations

The latest research from digital identity security specialists, ID Crypt Global, reveals that 65% of parents are worried that social media posts and Christmas advertising that depict the ‘perfect family Christmas’ creates unachievable expectations from their children.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, television, social media, and advertising in general are packed full of references to ‘the perfect family Christmas’, full of joy, extravagance, and filmic set pieces, from it crowing the tree with a star, to two dozen relatives crammed around the dining table.

But for many people, the tone of this Christmas messaging is daunting, and they start to worry- what if our Christmas isn’t as good as anyone else’s?

To gain a better understanding of our collective sentiment towards ‘the perfect Christmas’ as shown on TV and online, ID Crypt has commissioned a survey of 1,011 UK parents and asked them about the pressure of expectation.

The survey reveals that almost half of UK parents (47%) feel the pressure of expectation to deliver the perfect Christmas for their children, including presents piled under the tree and a giant feast on the table.

49% say that the way others share their Christmas plans and experiences on social media adds to the pressure to deliver a perfect Christmas.

There is also significant concern that children are being given unattainable Christmas expectations.

65% of parents feel that social media is influencing their children’s Christmas expectations, and another 65% say that Christmas advertising has the same effect.

As a result, 52% of parents admit to being worried that their children will be disappointed when their Christmas doesn’t live up to their expectations.

For a third of parents (33%), these worries are so great that they actively avoid sharing anything about their family Christmas on social media in case their Christmas fails to match the standards expected or experienced by their friends.