Social Media and Its Effects
on People’s Body Image
What is Body Image?
Body Image is defined as “Body image is a person's perception of their physical self and
the thoughts and feelings, positive, negative or both, which result from that
perception” (National Eating Disorders Collaboration).
https://theconversation.com/be-kind-to-your-bo
dy-on-lockdown-look-to-the-diversity-of-peopl
e-in-the-real-world-134089
Who?
● This can affect ANYONE
● Research shows young female teens ages 10-17 struggle the most with negative
body image
● Recently it’s been found that boys to are now being affected by it, feeling the need
to become more muscular
What??
● Social media has affected how many people view their body image
● 80% of women don’t like the way they look
● 30% of kids age 10-14 diet
● Ages 8-18 are engaged in a form of social media for 7.5 hours each day
● “Of American elementary school girls… 69% said that the pictures influence their
concept of the ideal body shape, 47% say the pictures make them want to lose
weight.” (Teens, Social Media And Body Image: Heather R. Gallivan, PsyD, LP
Park Nicollet Melrose Center)
When??
● Starts as early as elementary in children
● Can go on for the rest of their lives
● Movements to change negative body image started in 1960’s
● Affects people through all different sorts of media throughout their day
● Most Americans report feeling unhappy with how their body looks at times (79%
vs. 21% never, I am always satisfied with how my body looks), with dissatisfaction
most prevalent when looking in the mirror (37%), when at the beach in a bathing
suit (32%), or when shopping for clothes (31%) (Most Americans Experience
Feeling Dissatisfied with How Their Body Looks from Time to Time, Including
Nearly Two in Five Who Feel This Way Whenever They Look in the Mirror, 2018)
○
Where??
● All over the world
● In America 50% of people state that they are dissatisfied with their bodies
● Affects people through Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, etc
● Instagram is said to have the biggest impact on people’s body image
https://www.today.com/style/social-
media-affecting-way-we-view-our-b
odies-it-s-t128500
Why??
● Constant pressure of looking perfect
● Comparing yourself to others whether they be celebrities, friends, or
acquaintances
● Likes become necessary, the more likes you have means you look good
● Filters to make yourself look flawless like everyone else
● Wanting to fit in
● Twin sisters did an incredible TED Talk discussing the effects social media has on
young teens body image. They go in depth talking about their own personal
experiences and those of others close to them. They created an account on
Instagram called livelife_unfiltered where women post unfiltered natural photos
and talk about their struggles with self image on social media. Here’s a link to
their website explaining their story https://www.livelifeunfiltered.co
TED Talk: https://youtu.be/iWc5rQ_YvYw
How??
Results in:
● Depression
● Eating disorders
● Anxiety
● Photoshopping
● Low self-esteem
● Lower satisfaction with self
● Suicide
● Hatred of self
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBK2FhDfAYU&app=desktop
● Not being able to look in mirrors
● Scared of how others will see you in real life compared to your social media self
● Constantly comparing self to others
● Dieting/ fasting
● Starvation
