7 Ways Social Media Impacts Body Image

The rise of social media usage in today’s society can have many effects on body image. Social media is unfortunately shaping the concept of beauty. With frequent exposure to images posted online, it is obvious that there is a connection to how individuals compare themselves and perceive their own body. A negative body image can cause unrealistic expectations of how one's body should look. This comes from someone who has experienced this. I realized that this topic isn't talking about much, which is why I want to shed light on this topic. The media can hurt one's body image by constantly exposing themselves to the ideal body type, leading to constant comparison of themselves to unrealistic standards. People tend to show their best versions of themselves on social media. Being exposed to this can affect and impact body image negatively. Here's how:

1. It can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors

A negative body image increases the risk of engaging in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as dieting or restrictive eating. Some of these actions can lead towards eating disorders. Some people will tend to diet because they have a poor body image, rather than because they want to eat well. Of course it is important to eat healthy and maintain a healthy eating behavior however, dieting can also lead to physical illness and depression especially if one's weight goes up and down after dieting. Dieing or restrictive eating can also lead to preoccupation with thoughts about food.

2. It can lead to eating disorders

When one suffers from a body image problem, this can lead to the risk of eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia. One may restrict themselves from eating or exercising too much which causes one to obsess about weight. Others tend to overeat and overexercise causing the same outcome. With the beauty standards that social media portrays, one makes themselves feel like they don't fit within those beauty standards and will do anything to fit in without thinking about the consequences.

3. It can affect mental health

The effect of a poor body image on mental health goes beyond more than just negative thoughts. It can lead to anxiety and depression. The negative thoughts about one's body can turn into thoughts that have a negative impact on mental health. Body image and self esteem start in the mind, not in the mirror. Body image is both mental and emotional: its both the image one has of their body and the way they feel about their body when one looks into the mirror. If someone doesn't like their body or a part of it, it's hard to feel good about their whole selves mentaly and physically.

4. It can cause self image issues

With the use of social media, people will portray and post the best versions of themselves. People tend to have the idea that they should look like whatever is in the image especially if the post is about body image. Since social media emphasizes this, it puts out the idea in peoples heads that their appearance should look like a particular body size or shape. This is when comparing one body type to another comes along. This tends to make people focus on comparing their size, shape of appearance to unrealistic ideals causing self image issues and insecurities.

5. It can cause people to body shame others

When one feels insecure in their own skin, they will tend to talk down on themselves or others. This is called body shaming. Body shaming comes from a sense of insecurity regarding one's own body. For example, the person who shames someone who they perceive as too thin has insecurity about being too thin themselves. Body shaming occurs frequently rather it is indirect or direct. We see this a lot with social media. Someone can post a picture of themself but someone else can comment something negative or just simply say something behind that person's back without the other knowing.

6. It makes people feel that they don't fit beauty standards

Social media puts out the idea that one's body should fit within the beauty standards. This can hurt someone's body image by constantly exposing them to the ideal body type. There are many ways that social media can affect perceptions of beauty. One way would be through the common use of very thin and attractive models. This is known as the ideal thin, which reinforces the idea that “thin is beautiful.” This makes people want to be thinner due to the exposure of thin media images. Beauty standards cause battles with identity issues due to unrealistic beauty standards set by what social media portrays.

7. It can affect one's overall physical health

Physical health is just as important as mental health. People with a negative body image are more likely to feel overwhelmed making them less likely to to prioritize their mental and physical health. This can make someone become self-defeating, believing that they are worth less than people with the ideal body type. This can cause people to think and talk poorly of themselves. Although social media can sometimes portray good physical health, this can affect someone's physical and mental health if they see that they don't have the same “good physical health” that is shown over the internet.

Conclusion

Social media impacts body image in many ways, whether it is positive or negative. Body image refers to how people see themselves and social media is affecting this concept. This includes how they feel about their height, shape, and weight. Body image isn't only impacted by social media but my memories in one's own life and assumptions and generalizations about what bodies should look like and what it means when one deviates from that standard. Body image is extremely important since it's a way that one views themselves from their own point of view. As someone who has been impacted by this, it's important to have a positive body image although social media stops from making that possible. Overall, how does social media impact body image?

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