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Does Social Media Affect Your Body Image?

What messages have you received from social media about how your body should look?

By Callie Holtermann

What do the posts in your social media feeds tell you about how your body should look? How do they affect the way you feel about your body?

In general, how does what you see on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube or other social media sites affect your body image, which is defined as “a combination of the thoughts and feelings that you have about your body”?

In “ What Is ‘Bigorexia’? ” Alex Hawgood writes that some teenage boys feel pressure to build muscle because of what they see on social media:

Like many high school athletes, Bobby , 16, a junior from Long Island, has spent years whipping his body into shape through protein diets and workouts. Between rounds of Fortnite and homework, Bobby goes online to study bodybuilders like Greg Doucette , a 46-year-old fitness personality who has more than 1.3 million YouTube subscribers. Bobby also hits his local gym as frequently as six days a week. “Those guys made me realize I wanted to get bodies like them and post stuff like them,” said Bobby, who has fluffy curls of dark hair and the compact frame of a gymnast. (The New York Times is not publishing the surnames of minors or the names of their parents in this article to protect their privacy.) He makes sure to hit the fridge, too, grazing on protein-packed Kodiak Cakes and muscle-mass-building Oreo shakes. He consumes so much protein that classmates sometimes gawk at him for eating upward of eight chicken-and-rice meals at school. But Bobby isn’t getting buff so he can stand out during varsity tryouts. His goal is to compete in a different arena: TikTok. Bobby now posts his own workout TikToks. Shot on his iPhone 11, usually at the gym or in his family’s living room, the videos are devoted to topics like how to get a “gorilla chest,” “Popeye forearms” or “Lil Uzi’s abs.”

The article continues:

For many boys and young men, muscle worship has become practically a digital rite of passage in today’s beefcake-saturated culture. Examples are everywhere — the hypermasculine video games they play, the mesomorphic superheroes in the movies they watch. The top grossing films of last year were ruled by C.G.I.-enhanced masculine clichés: Spider-Man, Shang Chi, Venom and the entire Marvel universe. Many doctors and researchers say that the relentless online adulation of muscular male bodies can have a toxic effect on the self-esteem of young men, with the never-ending scroll of six packs and boy-band faces making them feel inadequate and anxious. And while there has been increased public awareness about how social media can be harmful to teenagers — spurred in part by the leak of internal research from Facebook showing that the company hid the negative effects of Instagram — much of that focus has been on girls. Recent reports, however, have found that those same online pressures can also cause teenage boys to feel bad about their bodies.

Students, read or listen to the entire article , then tell us:

How does social media affect the way you feel about your body? Has it ever made you feel bad about the way you look? Has it ever made you feel good?

Did you relate to any of the teenagers quoted in this article? If so, which ones, and why?

What messages have you received about how your body should look from social media and what you should do to make it look that way? Pick one of these messages and evaluate it: Is it good advice for teenagers? Would you share it with one of your friends?

Do you feel that men are encouraged or discouraged in sharing struggles or insecurities related to their bodies? Why do you think that is?

“The line between getting fit and fanatical is not always clear,” Mr. Hawgood writes. Do you agree? Do you think teenagers can learn useful lessons about fitness online without becoming obsessive or unhealthy? How?

Have you ever encountered body-positive content on social media? How has it made you feel? Do you think posts of this kind are useful? Why or why not?

Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column . Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Callie Holtermann joined The Learning Network as a senior news assistant in 2020. More about Callie Holtermann

The Definition of Body Image and Social Media Essay

Data collection methods to study body image and social media, body checking questionnaire (bcq), reference list.

The definition of body image and the perceptions driven by social media are topics that attract significant attention from scholars. According to Alebachew and Ashagrie (2017, p. 330), body image encompasses a multidimensional paradigm describing a person’s perception or depiction of their outward look. Thus, it revolves around mental images held by individuals regarding their physical appearance. Vannucci and Ohannessian (2018, p.786) point out that body image dissatisfaction (BID) is one of the hypothesized concepts that discuss the incongruity between the ideal and current physical appearance, mainly body size estimation (Ho, Lee and Liao, 2016). Saiphoo and Vahedi (2019, p. 260) assert that social media affects the behavioural, cognitive, affective, and evaluative components of an individual.

Therefore, social media is associated with body image due to its power to influence the psychological aspects of a person that translates to feelings of discontentment with physical appearance (Fardouly, Pinkus and Vartanian 2017, p. 31). Media and culture significantly influence an individuals’ perception of their physical appearance and overall body image. Jung and Jeong (2017, p. 268) allude that exposure to idealised images makes a person feel dissatisfied with their body. As a result, victims exhibit depression and low self-esteem. Thus, people exposed to idealised beauty through social and mainstream media develop or reinforce negative feelings.

Social media has positive impacts on individuals’ perception of their physical appearance based on comparison attributes. For instance, some people feel motivated when they compare themselves to others with better physical attributes (Cramer, Song and Drent 2016, p. 742). In this regard, Social Comparison Theory (SCT) posits that individuals liken their looks to assess their abilities (Robinson et al ., 2017, p. 69). It confirms that people who compare themselves constructively on social media maintain a positive outlook of their body image. Slater, Varsani, and Diedrichs (2017, p. 91) assert that females who read inspiration statements on social media have better physical satisfaction, high positive mood and appreciate their body compared to those who view unbiased images.

Conversely, social media adversely affects an individual’s view of their body appearance. Consequently, they engage in binge eating or food deprivation to attain ideal body size ( The link between social media and body image , 2019). Individuals also change how they look by participating in disordered eating behaviours due to social comparisons (Santarossa and Woodruff, 2017). Social media triggers low self-esteem in people dissatisfied with their body image. A study in the United Kingdom established by Kelly et al . (2018, p. 59) found that girls demonstrate low self-esteem (12.8%) and body-weight displeasure (78.2%) more often compared to 8.9% and 68.3% in boys, respectively. The outcomes underscore the adverse effect of social media on self-esteem due to negative body image perceptions.

Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIAQ)

BIAQ is one of the leading tools used to collect data for evaluating the implication of social media on body image perception. BIAQ includes self-reported questions that focus on behavioural avoidance of situations or practices that influence body image-related distress or displeasure. According to Legenbauer et al . (2020 p. 3), the form contains 19 components spread across four subcategories, which include clothing, social activities, restraint, and grooming/weighing. However, a German version of the questionnaire encompasses three elements; it contains clothing, eating restraint, and social activity, founded on 11 sublevels. The survey consists of a 6-pointscoring scale that establishes the occurrence of targeted behaviour; it starts with never (0) and ends with always (5) (Sandoz et al ., 2020). BIAQ measures behavioural evasion across several purviews that reflect body image discernments.

Therefore, the scale is useful in helping clinicians understand body image concerns demonstrated by patients. Internal consistency validates BIAQ’s significance as a tool for assessing the implication of social media on physical appearance perception. Legenbauer et al . (2020, p. 3) confirm that the questionnaire has good internal consistency marked by a Cronbach’s α=0.64-0.76. Besides, it shows stable test-retest reliability between α=0.64 and α=0.81. Another evaluation by Stapleton, McIntyre and Bannatyne (2016, p.103) found that BIAQ has a dependable internal validity between α=0.64 and α=0.8 based on psychometrical measurements. The tool also provides appropriate, discriminate data across age and gender and between clinical and non-clinical groups.

Body Image Assessment Scale-Body Dimensions (BIAS-BD)

BIAS-BD is an assessment tool examined in 2009 by Gardner et al . that helps collect data to examine how body size affects females’ perception of their physical appearance. The survey utilizes a pictographic scale of profile figures intended to characterise different body proportions ranging between 60% and 140% of a representative Body Mass Index (BMI) of females. Wagner, Aguirre and Sumner (2016) explain that the U.S. Air Force created BIAS-BD through the Material Command Unit with the help of the Generator of Body Data (GEBOD) program. Accordingly, the developers used a sample of 4,325 respondents and ran a regression analysis to produce outlines within intervals of five per cent for each size of a female body (Wagner, Aguirre and Sumner, 2016). Thus, it contains 17 shapes representing diverse BMIs while upholding body dimensions. BIAS-BD is useful in predicting BMI as a positive correlation component associated with people’s sense of dissatisfaction with physical appearance (Sharif, 2017, p. 718). A review by Wagner, Aguirre and Sumner (2016) shows that BIAS-BD produces significant results when assessing the influence of social media on body image elements, such as actual size and dissatisfaction. For instance, the bivariate correlation study conducted by Lewallen (2016, p. 109) indicates that Instagram induces a moderately positive relationship between real BMI and dissatisfaction. Both components had a mean of 21.59 and 13.76 and standard deviation of 3.17 and 11.74, respectively, at r = 0.44 and p < 0.001 (Wagner, Aguirre and Sumner, 2016). Although there is no sufficient evidence to ascertain the validity of BIAS-BD, the statistics exemplify its significance in collecting data to investigate the correlation between social media and body image.

BCQ is a self-administered survey used to collect data for assessing the ways people react to their bodies when exposed to elements, such as social media, which influence their perception. The survey contains 23 items ranked using a Likert scale ranging from one to five (Maïano et al ., 2019). The rating helps to determine how usually a particular behaviour occurs when exposed to triggering factors. Reas (2017) expounds that BCQ considers the total score of individual components between 23 and 115. Besides, it includes a single measurement factor (Body checking), which is compared to interrelated sub-factors. In addition, an Idiosyncratic Checking Scale (ICS) with five elements is integrated into BCQ to examine unusual control behaviour. Legenbauer et al . (2020, p. 3) confirm that BCQ has a reliable internal consistency with Cronbach’s α=0.83-0.92. A German version of BCQ shows similar validity levels marked by Cronbach’s alpha between 0.83 and 0.95. The robust stability makes BCQ a useful tool for collecting data to study the implication of social media on body image perception.

Alebachew, F. and Ashagrie, M. (2017) ‘The body-image concept analysis of youth and adolescent’, American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences , 5(6), pp. 130-134.

Cramer, E.M., Song, H. and Drent, A.M. (2016) ‘Social comparison on Facebook: motivation, affective consequences, self-esteem, and Facebook fatigue’, Computers in Human Behavior , 64, pp. 736-746.

Fardouly, J., Pinkus, R.T. and Vartanian, L.R. (2017) ‘The impact of appearance comparisons made through social media, traditional media, and in person in women’s everyday lives’, Body Image , 20, pp. 31-39.

Ho, S. S., Lee, E. W., & Liao, Y. (2016) ‘Social network sites, friends, and celebrities: the roles of social comparison and celebrity involvement in adolescents’ body image dissatisfaction’, Social Media+ Society , 2(3).

Jung, M.R. and Jeong, E. (2017) ‘Convergence factors influencing body image in adolescents’, Journal of Digital Convergence , 15(8), pp. 267-275.

Kelly, Y. et al . (2018) ‘Social media use and adolescent mental health: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study’, EClinical Medicine , 6, pp. 59-68.

Legenbauer, T. et al. (2020) ‘The body image approach test (BIAT): a potential measure of the behavioral components of body image disturbance in anorexia and bulimia nervosa?’ Frontiers in Psychology , 11, p. 30.

Lewallen, J. (2016) ‘When image isn’t everything: the effects of Instagram frames on social comparison’, The Journal of Social Media in Society , 5(2), pp.108-133.

Maïano, C. et al . (2019) ‘Psychometric properties of the body checking questionnaire (BCQ) and of the body checking cognitions scale (BCCS): a bifactor-exploratory structural equation modeling approach’, Assessment.

Reas D.L. (2017) ‘Body checking questionnaire (BCQ)’, in Wade, T. (ed), Encyclopedia of feeding and eating disorders . Singapore: Springer. pp. 65-69

Robinson, L. et al . (2017) ‘Idealised media images: the effect of fitspiration imagery on body satisfaction and exercise behaviour’, Body Image , 22, pp. 65-71.

Saiphoo, A.N. and Vahedi, Z. (2019) ‘A meta-analytic review of the relationship between social media use and body image disturbance’, Computers in Human Behavior , 101, pp. 259-275.

Sandoz, E.K. et al . (2020) ‘Relative associations of body image avoidance constructs with eating disorder pathology in a large college student sample’, Body Image , 34, pp. 242-248.

Santarossa, S. and Woodruff, S.J. (2017) ‘# SocialMedia: exploring the relationship of social networking sites on body image, self-esteem, and eating disorders’, Social Media+ Society , 3(2).

Sharif, P.S. (2017) ‘Development and psychometric evaluation of the breast size satisfaction scale’, International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 30 ( 8), pp. 717-727. Web.

Slater, A., Varsani, N. and Diedrichs, P.C. (2017) ‘# fitspo or# loveyourself? the impact of fitspiration and self-compassion Instagram images on women’s body image, self-compassion, and mood’, Body Image , 22, pp. 87-96.

Stapleton, P., McIntyre, T. and Bannatyne, A. (2016) ‘Body image avoidance, body dissatisfaction, and eating pathology: is there a difference between male gym users and non–gym users?’ American Journal of Men’s Health , 10(2), pp. 100-109.

The link between social media and body image (2019) Web.

Vannucci, A. and Ohannessian, C.M. (2018) ‘Body image dissatisfaction and anxiety trajectories during adolescence’, Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology , 47(5), pp. 785-795.

Wagner, C., Aguirre, E. and Sumner, E. M. (2016) ‘The relationship between Instagram selfies and body image in young adult women,’ First Monday , 21(9). Web.

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IvyPanda. (2024, March 26). The Definition of Body Image and Social Media. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-definition-of-body-image-and-social-media/

"The Definition of Body Image and Social Media." IvyPanda , 26 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/the-definition-of-body-image-and-social-media/.

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IvyPanda . 2024. "The Definition of Body Image and Social Media." March 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-definition-of-body-image-and-social-media/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Definition of Body Image and Social Media." March 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-definition-of-body-image-and-social-media/.

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IvyPanda . "The Definition of Body Image and Social Media." March 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-definition-of-body-image-and-social-media/.

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Impact of Media on Body Image

Media is everywhere. It is on our phones, our computers and laptops, on television, on public transport, at shopping centers, everywhere. Whether we like it or not, we encounter media on a regular basis and will inevitably be influenced by it. Moreover, one does not have to be an expert to recognize that, subconsciously, media is forming the way in which people look at themselves and the world around them. Body image is especially relevant in the context of media because beautiful bodies are often used for advertisement purposes. From gluten-free cereal to a car rental service, adverts often show retouched images of female or male models or celebrities who constantly work on their appearance. Looking at such ads, it is hard not to get self-conscious about one’s appearance, whether it is the body, skin, or hair. Therefore, the influence of media, regardless of its form and method of transfer, is detrimental in establishing a negative perception of the population’s body image.

Researchers have extensively studied the connections between the active engagement of people with different forms of media and their perceptions of their bodies. A recent study by Hogue and Mills (2019) found that engagement with attractive peers on social media increased negative perceptions of body image. The research included 143 young women from York University and concluded that people’s comparisons with individuals of “better” appearance on social media could lower females’ body image concerns. Such findings allow with the previous recommendation that body image gets lower when individuals view images of women who are considered attractive by the social standard. This points to the need to establish body image media literacy programs to highlight the adverse effects of media use. In this context, media literacy refers to the ability of a person to understand when information is needed, as well as recognize how to evaluate, locate, and use it (McLean, Paxton, & Wertheim, 2016). This points to the need to educate the public about a healthy relationship with the media and how it can be managed.

As the world relies heavily on media, the population is bombarded by the images of successful people who have worked on their image for years and even decades. The main issue within this is not the fact that famous people have invested time, effort and money into themselves. Rather, the key problem is that the standard for beauty that is being set is unobtainable for the general public. The way in which many media personalities look is not realistic not only because of heavy makeup or years of exercising but also due to heavy retouching of their images. There are multiple instances in which companies have been caught retouching their advertisements that should have shown realistic images. For example, a skincare brand Dove has admitted to retouching their advertisements the message of which was ‘real beauty.’ Dove faced significant backlash when it turned out that the images were photoshopped to make them more appealing to the target audience. Turns out, even real beauty is being modified on media, with people expected to believe corporations, which, in turn, harms their personal self-perception.

While expecting that TV, advertisements, and posts on social media would become 100% truthful is unrealistic expectations, it is important to voice the concerns about their impact. The airbrushed images of models or actors cause unhealthy habits in vulnerable individuals, especially younger people. Some of the pressing concerns regarding the adverse impact of media have been associated with eating disorders that develop as a result of unrealistic expectations about one’s body. For instance, anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a perceptual issue called body dysmorphia. It refers to a misalignment between the way a person looks and the way they think they look (Richards, 2017). Despite being quite slim, people with anorexia feel that they are overweight and try to lose more weight by refusing to eat or over-exercising. Bulimia nervosa is a disorder during which individuals control their weight through fasting or purging, although the condition is harder to spot compared to anorexia. Therefore, apart from general emotional distress, the unrealistic images on media exacerbate the psychological condition to such a degree that a serious intervention could be needed.

Media is here to stay. People will continue being exposed to unrealistic images because the latter are the driving force for advertising and making money. However, there is a high need to educate the population, especially younger people, that they are not expected to look the same as the retouched and airbrushed celebrities. It is imperative for young people to understand that media is only a part of society and will never represent it to the fullest extent. However, one of the main goals is to foster an environment of acceptance that celebrates the diversity of appearance, thought, life choices, and perspectives. In the wake of the recent global turmoil, we should all aim our strength at creating something positive rather than focusing on the negative.

Hogue, J., & Mills, J. (2019). The effects of active social media engagement with peers on body image in young women. Body Image, 28 , 1-5.

McLean, S., Paxton, S., & Wertheim, E. (2016). The role of media in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating: A systematic review. Body Image, 19 , 9-23.

Richards, P. (2017). How does media impact body image and eating disorder rates?  Web.

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Impact of social media on self-esteem and body image among young adults

R. molina ruiz.

1 Hospital clínico san carlos, Psychiatry, Madrid, Spain

I. Alfonso-Fuertes

2 Comillas University, Psychology, Madrid, Spain

S. González Vives

Introduction.

The extent to which social media contributes to body image dissatisfaction and lower self-esteem is currently under debate

This research seeks to study the relationship between the use of Instagram (one of the main platforms used by young people nowadays) and the degree of dissatisfaction with body image and the level of self-esteem among their younger users

A sample of 585 Spanish adults between 18 and 40 years old was used, to whom the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and the Social Comparison of Appearance Scale (PACS) were applied.

A positive correlation was observed between the frequency of use of the social network and dissatisfaction with body image and low self-esteem. In addition, it was found that content observation time significantly predicts body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. On the other hand, the type of content both published and observed, showed no effect on any of these variables, although it has been found that the relationship between the use of the platform and the study variables seems to be mediated by the tendency of their users to compare their appearance with others.

Conclusions

These results invite us to reflect on the use of social networks and their impact on constructs as relevant to the person as self-esteem and body image and on how different policies should be taken into account to prevent a negative impact on the mental health of their users

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Social media effects on body image and eating disorders

• Author By Bella Fleps
• April 21, 2021

The rise of social media usage in today’s society can have many different effects on body image and the later development of eating disorders in many individuals. Research clearly shows that media exposure contributes to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Social media is unfortunately shaping our concept of beauty. With constant exposure to images posted online, it is evident that there is a link to how individuals compare themselves and perceive their own body. There are an estimated 3.6 billion users worldwide on social media, therefore there must be negative and positive effects linked with social media users.

A negative body image can cause unrealistic expectations of how your body should look and can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors and disordered eating. Studies have found a correlation between the time spent on social media and a negative body image. The correlation is especially true when participants were scrolling through appearance-related content, like accounts of a fitness instructor or model on Instagram. Social media images are filled with people presenting the best version of themselves. Social media can then hurt your body image by constantly exposing yourself to the ideal body type, leading to constant comparison of yourself to unrealistic standards. Additionally, photoshop and filters are readily available to users playing into the unrealistic body image.

However, social media can also have positive effects on body image and can promote body positivity. Viewing body-positive content on social media platforms can help individuals become more accepting and appreciative of their bodies. Additionally, social media can connect you with others to build a body-accepting community.

It is important to examine ways to use social media in a positive way to avoid a negative body image. It is important to take a break from social media if you feel worse after using it. Additionally, examine who you are following on social media and unfollow accounts if they do not make you feel good. Instead, pay attention to accounts, people, and images that lift you up. Follow accounts that promote body positivity that does not agree with the beauty standards set by society. (A great account to follow to begin your search for body positivity accounts is @realistic.body.therapist on Instagram.)  Finding body-positive accounts and joining support groups can help shift your mindset about the ideal body image set by society. Furthermore, you can use your own social media to be an advocate for positive body talk. Shout out to media outlets, retailers, advertisers, and celebrity product endorsers who celebrate and promote natural looks, healthy body size, and diverse body shapes. You can take a stand and refuse to read, view, or listen to media or buy advertised products that do not promote a healthy and diverse body image.

Students should also consider participating in The Body Project or More Than Muscles programs offered through Student Counseling Services. These workshops help students develop and maintain a positive body image and are scientifically supported eating disorder prevention programs. Students will get a chance to dive deeper in conversations about the body image ideal set by society and promoted to us by the media.

For more information on how media effects body image visit https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/media-eating-disorders .

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Social Media and Body Image

This essay will discuss the impact of social media on body image. It will explore how social media platforms can influence perceptions of beauty and self-esteem, and the psychological effects this can have, particularly on young people. At PapersOwl too, you can discover numerous free essay illustrations related to Body Image.

How it works

Beauty is not in the eyes of the beholder. It has been altered, copied and pasted, and manipulated to look like everyone else. Societies’ view on beauty has been molded throughout the years to confine to narrow ideas of beauty. These beauty standards have been filled with negative images portrayed by the media. Today’s media has been manipulated with images with photoshop editing, fad diets and unrealistic expectations on standards of what a person should look like. Even though social expectations do not dictate what we change ourselves, the media negatively distorts body image.

Body image refers to people’s judgements of themselves and their own bodies. It is formed when people compare themselves to that of others. By establishing unattainable standards of beauty and bodily perfection, the media drives people to dissatisfaction of their body image. This dissatisfaction can result to drastic measures and even disorders of behavior, as people try to achieve these unreachable goals. With social media becoming a more popular source of entertainment, it will continue to create body image issues. Through the years, history has shown us how body image has changed because of society standards.

Before messages about body image were expanded to its current size and speed by electronic mass, messages about body image were carried by magazines, newspapers, books and print ads. Unrealistic standards of body image have not been a recent trend just brought on by the increase in technology. Body image has been altered over the past 300 years. This has been hugely in part to the accordance to what society deems attractive. In the 17th century, curvy voluptuous woman was considered to be the ideal beauty standard for women in the U.S and Europe. Peter Paul Rubens, a 17th century painter was famous for depicting plump, sensual women, coined Rubenesque (VanBuskirk). Throughout the 1900s woman were depicted with a thin waist, large bosom, and rounded shoulders, many times using corsets to physically shift the shape and size of their waist. From the 1920s onward, body image was continually altered and shaped, idealizing slimmer body types. For example, flappers on the 1920s had slender builds, women of the 1940s and 50’s felt pressure to conform to the airbrushed ideals of mass-produced pinup girls, and by the 60’s women adopted slender, almost emaciated looks like that of Twiggy. Eventually arriving into the 1990’s and 2000’s. During this time period the sensationalized heroin chic, associated with Kate Moss, this look exemplified a slender frame, and sunken cheeks which became the status of beauty to be obtained by other models. If models had become any skinnier, they wouldn’t have been able to walk the runway.

A cross sectional survey observing the trends within the area of body image satisfaction made it certain that females had reported relatively more satisfaction in the 1960’s that in 1990’s (Agliata). The comparison of body image and satisfaction has shown to be swayed by media influences. The ongoing alterations of woman’s bodies will only continue with the rise of social media. Therefore, history has shown that media imagery is influential in the way women perceive themselves. In today’s society, social media has become the main source of body image dissatisfaction. As technology has grown, so has the amount of exposure a person will experience throughout the day. According to the first-quarter 2018 Nielsen Total Audience report, nearly half an adults’ day is dedicated to consuming this content (Schmall). Today, people are exposed to more images to compare themselves to than ever before. This constant exposure affects viewers. With social media on the rise, unrealistic body images and picture-perfect lifestyles overload a screen at any given time. A cookie cutter image of the Kardashians has been at the forefront of today’s social standard. Large lips, curvy hips and a large buttock has been seen as the epitome of modern idealistic beauty. Women are going as far as to alter their looks by cosmetic surgery to obtain the look.

Generally, celebrities in the 80s and 90s received plastic surgery, but the significant cultural shift toward creating idealistic bodies has pushed plastic surgery business into the foreseeable future. Women feel increasingly pressured by the media about their bodies. Images that are shown on media platforms depict unrealistic bodies that reflect a society that has unobtainable expectations. However, body positive accounts have been made to counteract what is happening in society. Body stereotypes have long held a rein in dictating society’s view on beauty, but the body positive movement has gained steam over the past years. Plus size models and other varying types of body types are rebelling against societies’ push to conform society’s ideal body stereotype. The body positive movement refers to accepting the body that you have, regardless of age, shape, size and race. Multiple social media accounts have been produced to rejoice in the bodies that a person is currently in. Though the body positive movement is among us, it is not here to stay. Many plus size models are still outside the average American body, cat walking with flawless faces, long legs and flat stomachs. There is still a society label on plus size models who are narrowly labeled as being unattractive and are heavily criticized. The fact is, that body positive social media accounts are narrow in their inclusion of what is socially appropriate. Many times, body positive groups exclude another group.

There are also misconceptions that body positive groups are promoting being unhealthy by accepting those who are larger in size. Regardless of the trend, the truth remains that the body positive movement is advertised as a ‘love yourself movement’ when really it is nothing more than a way for companies to use it as a campaign. Society should have a positive view on body image but instead it is misleading in its movement, producing body dissatisfaction. The fact remains that body positive outlets do not deter from the rise of psychological disorders. The effect social media has on body image has caused a rise in disorders, such as self-esteem, depression and eating disorders. Overexposure to social media has skewed normal standards of health and beauty for woman throughout society. Richard Perloff, a Professor of communications at Cleveland State University says, “Many cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys have found that media exposure predicts body dissatisfaction, thin body ideals, and eating disorder symptomatology among preadolescent girls and young women” (Perloff). People compare themselves to these images while internalizing the feelings associated with not being good enough, they then absorb the message that they should associate themselves based on their appearance.

Some people are affected by reacting quickly and strongly to images while others are resistant to images and they do not affect that person. These reactions have to do with an individual’s traits such as self-esteem, how they feel about their appearance, and images that may become triggers. Some triggers may cause issues towards one’s body issue such as depression, low self-esteem and even eating disorders. However, overexposure doesn’t always mean someone will feel worse about their bodies. People that are affected are not equally affected by images portrayed by the media. There are suggestions that the effect of body image standards can be felt in several areas. It is natural to compare oneself to another, but when observations go beyond a healthy correlation and people tell themselves that their bodies are substandard, there may become instances of feeling depressed or suffer from low self-esteem, possibly even develop and eating disorder.

Other unhealthy habits may develop because of unrealistic standards, such as smoking, alcohol and drugs. Overexposure has accelerated the development of psychological disorders and with the continual use of social media, the next generation will follow suit. Media has attributed to many expectations of women’s body image. The ongoing evolution of body image has shown to alter throughout the years, and historically has shown the downsizing of the human body and what is deemed attractive. People associate their image as their self-worth, and this shouldn’t be the case. The way society has molded people with unrealistic standards should not create harm on a person who do not feel adequate enough. Images of unattainable standards should not be plastered on billboards and screens to be a representation of what a stereotypical person should look like. As trends show and beauty standard alter, correlations have been showing dissatisfaction whether it be depression, anxiety or an eating disorder. Social media’s popularity will continue to morph the standards of body image.    

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The Impact of Social Media on Body Image Perception and Eating Disorders

• Jiakun Wang Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China

This essay discusses the negative impact of social media on body image and the promotion of healthier attitudes towards food and body diversity. It explores the sociocultural and psychological factors that contribute to susceptibility to social media influence, such as self-esteem, body image dissatisfaction, the need for social approval, perfectionism, and social comparison orientation. Peer pressure and social comparison are identified as significant influences on social media platforms. Potential solutions and interventions are proposed, including media literacy education, promoting body positivity and diversity, encouraging responsible social media use, developing evidence-based resources, fostering a supportive online community, collaborating with influencers and content creators, and encouraging individuals to seek professional help. By addressing these issues, we can work towards mitigating the negative impact of social media on body image and promoting healthier attitudes towards food and body diversity.

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Social Media

How social media affects body image and eating behavior, eating-related content is linked to a negative body image..

Updated December 21, 2023 | Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

• Social media can have positive and negative effects.
• Eating-related content is related to higher levels of eating disorder symptoms.
• Eating-related content is related to higher consumption or intention to consume the foods we see.

In 2023, approximately 60 percent of the world’s population was using social media . Social media can be used for beneficial purposes, such as keeping in touch with family and friends. However, social media can also be harmful.

In particular, there is mounting evidence that paints a fairly consistent picture: Higher levels of exposure to appearance-related content on social media (e.g., beauty influencers, “fitspiration”) is associated with, and can cause, a more negative body image .

Given the popularity of social media around the globe and the established link between appearance-related content and negative body image, researchers at Flinders University in Australia wanted to investigate the relationship between eating-related content, body image, and eating behaviour ( Wu, Kemps, & Prichard, 2024 ).

The Research Methodology

To do so, the researchers conducted an extensive search of the evidence base for studies about eating-related content on social media, body image, and eating behaviour. They screened more than 5,000 identified records to determine whether these met their inclusion criteria for the analyses (e.g., the studies needed to have a measure of exposure to eating-related content on social media, body image, and/or eating behaviour).

From these records, the researchers identified 38 studies that met their inclusion criteria. They systematically extracted the data from these studies and summarised the overall findings according to three categories. Key findings from two of these categories are described below (see the full research article for their data concerning viewers’ opinions about eating-related content).

Category 1: Eating-Related Content and Body Image

With only a few exceptions, the studies that investigated the relationship between eating-related content and body image showed that exposure to eating-related content on social media was associated with a more negative body image.

For example, following social media influencers who share dieting and nutrition advice, and higher levels of exposure to “clean eating” on social media, were related to higher levels of negative body image. Clean eating is a “style of eating that promotes consumption of whole and unprocessed foods” (Wu et al., 2024).

Category 2: Eating-Related Content and Eating Behaviour

Similarly, with only a few exceptions, the studies that investigated the relationship between eating-related content and eating behaviour showed that exposure to eating-related content on social media was associated with higher levels of eating disorder symptoms.

For example, viewing clean eating imagery and eating broadcasts on social media was related to higher levels of eating disorder symptoms; viewing Instagram feeds featuring “low-energy-density” foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables) led to increased intentions to engage in disordered eating .

Relatedly, the overall evidence showed that eating-related content on social media was associated with higher consumption of (or intention to consume) the foods that were depicted on social media.

For example, viewing images of snack foods with low nutrition density (e.g., cakes, chips) led to increased intake or willingness to consume those foods, and exposure to Facebook postings related to fruit and vegetable intake led to increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

The Key Take-Home Messages

Overall, there is a link between various types of eating-related content on social media and respectively a more negative body image and higher levels of disordered eating. Interestingly, some types of content—such as clean eating and nutrition advice—are supposedly intended to promote healthier eating and well-being.

The negative effects of these types of content may be explained by the fact that influencers who share health and nutrition advice on social media tend to be poorly qualified (e.g., see Lynn et al., 2020 ). Further, many of these influencers also depict bodily ideals (e.g., being very thin and lean), which may enhance some of the mechanisms that are known to cause negative body image and disordered eating (e.g., appearance-based social comparisons).

The evidence also suggests that whatever foods we are exposed to online may contribute to higher consumption of (or intention to consume) those particular foods. This holds for foods like sweets and fried foods, but also fruits and vegetables.

For both categories of studies (i.e., effects of eating-related content on body image and eating behaviour), the authors stressed that more experiments are needed to determine causality and the direction of these effects. For example, it could be that people with higher levels of eating disorder symptoms actively seek out content that could reinforce disordered eating (e.g., clean eating, dieting advice).

There are surprisingly few studies that have experimentally investigated the effects of eating-related content on body image and eating behaviour, and, hopefully, more research will continue to be conducted in the future.

For now, it is wise to be mindful of the type of eating-related content we see and seek out online and to be skeptical about whether this content is helpful. This is especially important considering that social media algorithms may lead to repeated and increased exposure to the same types of content, which may only enhance its effects over time.

Wu, Y., Kemps, E., & Prichard, I. (2024). Digging into digital buffets: A systematic review of eating-related social media content and its relationship with body image and eating behaviours. Body Image , 48 , 101650.

Vandenbosch, L., Fardouly, J., & Tiggemann, M. (2022). Social media and body image: Recent trends and future directions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 45, 101289.

de Valle, M. K., Gallego-Garcia, M., Williamson, P., & Wade, T. D. (2021). Social media, body image, and the question of causation: Meta-analyses of experimental and longitudinal evidence. Body Image, 39, 276–292.

Jessica Alleva, Ph.D ., is an assistant professor of psychology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, and a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Appearance Research in the U.K.

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How Does Social Media Affect Our Body Image? Expert Explains.

With the neverending stream of fads on Social Media maintaining a positive body image can be a daunting task.

 Bridget Shertzer, MS, LPC, Site Director at The Renfrew Center joined PHL17’s Monica Cryan to talk about avoiding unhealthy trends on social media.

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In the Media | How Does Social Media Affect Our Body Image? Expert Explains.

Published by: PHL17

With the neverending stream of fads on Social Media maintaining a positive body image can be a daunting task.

 Bridget Shertzer, MS, LPC, Site Director at The Renfrew Center of Philadelphia-Center City joined PHL17’s Monica Cryan to talk about avoiding unhealthy trends on social media.

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