How Does Social Media Affect Body Image?
Published December 21st, 2023
4 min read
Scrolling through too many pictures and videos on Instagram and TikTok can cause you to develop issues with your body image.
Written by Simon Spichak
It is easier than ever to use filters and other apps to make any picture of a person look perfect. Constantly seeing these images on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media applications can distort our body image or how we think about our bodies. It can cause shame, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders.
How does social media affect body image?
Meta, the company that owns Instagram, conducted its research studies on Instagram, finding that the app is extremely harmful to the mental health of teenage girls. Spending a lot of time on Instagram and other social media apps exposes us to unrealistic, filtered, and photoshopped images of celebrities, friends and other people we might look up to.
As a result, young girls who spend a lot of time on social media can become prone to developing serious mental health concerns, like issues with their body image, anxiety, and eating disorders.
Body image issues
Body image is the way that someone sees and experiences their body. Sometimes, a negative body image could make you more likely to avoid situations where your body might become exposed. People with a negative body image might have negative perceptions, feelings or thoughts about their bodies. This can cause shame, anxiety, unhealthy eating habits, and, in some cases, eating disorders.
Body image disturbance
Body image disturbance occurs when the image you see of yourself in the mirror is inaccurate. Someone with a body image disturbance might think that their body shape or size is much larger than it is.
Body dysmorphia
Body dysmorphia involves an unhealthy obsession with a specific aspect of your body or appearance. People develop strategies to manage the distress of not looking the way they want to, sometimes leading to the development of an eating disorder or unhealthy amounts of exercise to compensate for bingeing junk food.
Signs that social media is affecting your body image
There are many signs that your social media use is putting you at risk of developing body issues and other mental health disorders, including:
Cyberbullying and shaming. Many teenage girls, boys, and even adults experience this when bullies and trolls start to harass or make fun of the photos they post online. Sometimes, this can lead to ongoing campaigns of harassment and cyberbullying that can amp up feelings of anxiety and shame over your body.
Comparison and body image concerns. If you find yourself constantly comparing your body to others online, it can lead to the development of body dissatisfaction or body image concerns.
Disordered eating and eating disorders. Some people might develop anorexia, bulimia, or another form of disordered eating as a way to deal with the perceived imperfections in their body shape or size.
Negative self-esteem. If you constantly see beautiful, perfect people on social media, you might become dissatisfied with how you look. In addition to causing body image concerns, it can negatively impact your confidence.
Negative self-talk. Some people might start telling themselves that they’re fat, ugly, or that they won’t be able to find a romantic partner because of the way that they look.
Therapy for social media use
Seeing a therapist can help you reduce your social media use, as well as help to treat any body concerns or eating disorders that occur as a result of overuse. They might help you develop strategies to limit screen time, reduce your dependency on social apps, and encourage you to take up other, more meaningful hobbies.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can also help address the underlying reasons you might be using social media, reducing how often you feel the need to check your phone. Radical acceptance therapy can help you feel more comfortable within your body as it teaches you to shift your attention to your values and hobbies instead of obsessing over how you look.
Are you interested in learning whether you might benefit from therapy? You can book a free 15-minute consultation here.
Please note that this post is written for educational purposes; it is not therapy. If you need to talk to a professional, please book a consultation with a psychotherapist through Resolvve.
