Social media teaches us teens we have to be ‘perfect.’ Let’s change that | Opinion

Look inside

As a student in a large high school, I see how social media affects teenagers and how they see themselves and others. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat constantly surround us with pictures and videos that are filtered, edited or enhanced to fit beauty standards.

Studies show that unrealistic beauty standards because of social media’s promotion of idealized bodies and diet culture are a leading cause of unhealthy eating habits in teenagers.

Social media puts heavy pressure on teenagers to fit into social norms. This pressure can lead to harmful views on weight, eating and appearances. Many teens compare or change themselves to be like influencers and celebrities who appear “perfect” or “put together” online. This can reshape how teens feel about themselves or others based on looks alone. This can develop into eating disorders and insecurities, causing lifelong issues.

To fix this problem, we must recognize the control social media has over us. By challenging unrealistic standards, we can return more value to everyone’s personality beyond our appearance.

- Madison Davis, Lee’s Summit

Cause, effect

Maybe I’m not seeing things logically — or maybe I am. First, Donald Trump sends in Immigration and Customs Enforcement to find undocumented individuals to deport. That causes people to take to the streets to demonstrate against what ICE is doing. Then, Trump says there are dangerous protesters in our cities. So what does he do but send in troops to stop these supposedly “dangerous” situations?

Trump apparently does not see that his not-clearly-thought-out decisions cause us, the people, to voice our concerns. The more reactive his decisions get, the more we protest.

He’s not listening.

- Mary Hutchinson, Kansas City

Truly royal

Thank you, Kansas City Royals, for games played well and played hard this season. Every game, won or lost, had exciting plays and great reporting.

Also thank you for carrying on Ewing and Muriel Kauffman’s legacy of service to Kansas City with your many volunteer activities and presence in the community.

I’m looking forward to 2026.

- Nan Jehle, Prairie Village

Some gift

On his 26th birthday, Trevor Lawrence got a gift from our Kansas City Chiefs before a national television audience, handing an overrated Jacksonville team a victory.

Twelve penalties, along with three kickoffs resulting in starting field position on the 40-yard line, made it an almost impossible game for the Jaguars to lose. Especially costly was a final kickoff that went out of bounds.

After the Chiefs led 14-0 in the first half, every opportunity was present for a runaway victory with an interception in hand until a teammate knocked the ball out of Nick Bolton’s hands.

These players are having a hard time getting out of one another’s way. Just ask Xavier Worthy in an earlier game, or look at the long interception return Monday night when two Chiefs receivers were within 5 yards of each other, making it pretty easy for the Jaguars to know where the ball was going.

As a dynasty, there is no cakewalk, but it’s time to stop celebrating our opponents’ birthdays. Coordinate plays better. It’s time to have our own cake and eat it again.

- Mike George, Springfield

Model courage

I’m just wondering when and if Kansas Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran plan on commenting about Todd Arrington. You know, the gentleman from Abilene who had the courage to tell the felonious, draft-dodging, sexually abusing president that he couldn’t take a sword from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum and give it away as a present to King Charles. You know, the man who actually followed the law and then lost his job.

Come on, Senators, grow a spine and get the man his job back. Or at least offer him a position in your office. Arrington did what so many of you and the other members of the GOP won’t do: He stood up to the bully and did what was right.

If only you would show such courage.

- Jim Cumley, Kansas City

Parody unclear

An editorial by the The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press Editorial Board in the Oct. 10 Star starts : “It’s been several years since President Barack Obama stood at Naval Station Norfolk in front of active-duty sailors …” (Oct. 10, 8A, “At Navy event, Trump focuses on himself”) It goes on to describe the outrages in a speech recently delivered by Donald Trump, but inserting “Obama,” “Republicans” and “insects” in place of “Trump,” “Democrats” and “gnats.” The rhetorical device probably was meant to elicit a little cognitive dissonance in the reader.

I should not need to point out that the entire paragraph was false, but I will. In today’s media environment, there is every possibility that this editorial will be referenced repeatedly across the internet, including by people who believe it is true, to support the false allegation that Obama actually did such a thing. It seems careless to publish this without anything to alert the casual reader that the introductory paragraph is a sort of convoluted joke and not real reporting.

- Barbara M. Griggs, Kansas City

Sick system

I opened Mitchell’s Drug Stores in Neosho, Missouri, in 2003 to care for my friends and neighbors the right way. More than 20 years later, it’s never been harder to keep our doors open — not because of competition, but because of pharmacy benefit managers or PBMs.

These middlemen — mainly CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx — control nearly 80% of U.S. prescription claims. They decide what pharmacies are paid, what patients pay and where prescriptions can be filled. Too often, PBMs reimburse pharmacies less than the cost of the medication — paying $90 for a drug that costs $100 — then claw back even more money through hidden fees.

Meanwhile, they steer patients to their own corporate pharmacies, pushing independents out of business.

This isn’t just hurting pharmacies — it’s hurting patients. When local pharmacies close, communities lose access to vaccines, delivery and the personal care that keeps people healthy.

It’s time for lawmakers to act: Demand transparency, stop unfair clawbacks and ensure fair reimbursement. When PBMs close a pharmacy, they don’t just end a business — they break a community lifeline. Contact your state and federal legislators today and urge them to pass pharmacy benefit manager reform now.

- Tim Mitchell, Neosho, Missouri

Feed students

As a college student in Missouri, I know that never wondering where my next meal would come from played a huge role in my academic success.

Just like books, computers and reliable transportation, access to food is fundamental for students to reach their potential. But significant barriers still prevent all kids from eating at school. That’s why I support eliminating the reduced-price meal copay in Missouri. The copay remains a burden for many families and is the biggest reason students enrolled in reduced-price meals don’t eat at school. Eliminating it would ensure every student gets enough to eat and could put millions more meals in the hands of children.

Free school meals improve test scores, behavior and attendance. Children who eat school meals earn more over their lifetimes, which strengthens our economy. And through federal reimbursements, schools actually make money by providing free meals. Missouri’s schools would gain millions in funding by removing the copay.

If we provide more free school meals, our students will do better, our schools will gain resources and our economy will thrive. Tell your legislators: We need a bill to eliminate the reduced-price meal copay in Missouri. For our schools, our students and all of us.

- Sydney Regan, St. Louis