Social Media and Body Image

It’s no secret that social media has influenced the way we feel about ourselves and our bodies.  Though, this isn’t new, as the media in general has had an impact on us for many years.  However, having 24 hour access to media on our cell phones has made it harder to escape doom scrolling.  In our time doom scrolling, we come across images, videos and information regarding unrealistic beauty standards and diet culture.  This increased access to social media has also created a space where users can say what they want, such as negative comments about people and their bodies.  

The media has had a negative impact on body image for many, many years.  Magazines and television were leading media before social media apps became more available.  Magazines included photoshopped and edited photos of models and celebrities, creating unrealistic images and standards for society to try and replicate.  Magazines were also notorious for body shaming, having unflattering pictures of celebrities and public figures on pages while talking negatively about them.  Television shows and commercials would also display media on what is the current body image trend, and we would watch these and feel we need to follow the trend.  

Fast forward to the current day, where apps such as Instagram and TikTok give us access to see into the lives of public figures.  This includes images and videos of their lifestyles, food they eat in a day, workout routines, images of their bodies, and sometimes, sharing about surgeries.  Trends are easier to see and be influenced.  Throughout the years, we’ve seen a rise in women and teens getting lip fillers to achieve the trending “plump lips”, getting BBLs for curvier figures, and most recently, using Ozempic for a slimmer body.  All it takes for one influential person to do it, then others will follow.  For example, Kylie Jenner played a major role (whether intentional or not) in setting the trend for lip fillers.  Another issue, however, is once you see a photo or video on your feed, the Instagram and TikTok algorithm continues to show you images of what you saw.  If you clicked on one image of Kylie, much of the content that is going to be recommended to you and show on your “for you page” will be of Kylie.  If you clicked on something related to Ozempic, now your feed is being flooded with Ozempic related content.  It becomes hard to escape from, thus influencing us that we need to do the same, or feel dissatisfied with ourselves because we don’t look the way the person in the image looks.  This has also led to a rise in eating disorders, especially during the pandemic where most people were home and constantly on social media.    

Not only has social media created a negative impact on how we feel about our bodies, but it has created a space where people can bash others.  Being online has given people more confidence in talking negatively about other people, places and things, given they are behind a screen.  Recently, there has been major concern around celebrity Ariana Grande and how her body has changed.  Though there are many people expressing genuine concern, there are also people who are bashing her body, and saying cruel things about her online.  Prior to his passing, actor Chadwick Boseman received harsh comments from online users and the media regarding his body changes.  Little did the world know, Chadwick was suffering from colon cancer and passed in 2020.  Celebrities and public figures are not the only ones who receive these negative comments about their bodies, as it happens to the everyday person as well.  If you are on social media, you can also receive harsh comments around your looks and body if you are posting pictures and videos of you.  

So, how can we limit the impact social media has on ourselves and how we feel about our bodies?  Deleting accounts and cutting off social media is not for everyone, especially if you are using it to connect with others or for business.  Being mindful about what your feed looks like is a great place to start.  Now that we understand that what we click on or look up impacts our feed, clicking on more body neutral and acceptance content can help filter out the negative ones.  Finding content creators who focus on self-acceptance and authentically being themselves is helpful in connecting with someone who is more relatable.  There is also the option of not clicking on body or self-image related posts, and finding other types of content to flood your feed with. Being self-aware of how much time you are spending on social media is another helpful tip.  The longer we spend on it, the more likely we can come across this type of content.  Spending time off social media can benefit your mind and mental health from the content you’ve been consuming.  To help with this, give yourself a time limit on how long you can scroll for, and fill your schedule with some activities to take away the temptation of scrolling.