Adolescent girls who spend more time on the internet than doing homeworks are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and poor body image, a new research has revealed.

As part of the NetGirls project, 1,100 adolescent girls from South Australia were surveyed to determine the effects of the amount of time they spend online to how they perceive their bodies and identities.

The study found that the participants, on average, logged on the internet for more than the amount recommended by Australian guidelines, with more than 40% reporting self-esteem and body image issues.