Social Media impact on body image judgment

The online world is so stocked with images of human bodies that depending on where we click, and how critical we are of ourselves, we can develop either a healthy appreciation for marvelous physiques or a terribly defective hatred of our own imperfect bodies. But those perfect bodies we see and fear that we will never emulate may actually just be digitized lies that nobody, not even the models themselves we compare ourselves to that even they have never achieved, in which case we’re approaching ourselves for nothing.

The influence on body perception in the age of social media, digital communication, and self-criticism is made worse by the frequency of false representations on social media. “Self-criticism” refers to internalized judgment and is more intense regarding the inaccurate representations of bodies on social media. One major factor in the escalation of body dysmorphia and its detrimental impacts on mental health and social interactions is the ongoing dissemination of an idealized and unrealistic representation of bodies on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Social media users frequently post carefully chosen and digitally improved photographs that substantially alter reality. This behavior is consistent with studies showing the conflicting effects of social media and online communication on the well-being of adolescents, stressing negative consequences. In their 2013 comprehensive survey 43 surveys from 2003 to 2013, Paul Best and others found mixed results regarding the effect of social media on adolescent well-being. Other authors have reported mixed findings, but there was significant evidence that youth who use social media are subject to cyberbullying, depression, and social isolation.

They observed that although technological advances online can offer benefits like heightened self-worth and a sense of social support, they can also put people at risk, worsening problems like cyberbullying, depression, and social isolation. The review’s contradicting findings highlight the need for more investigation to fully comprehend the complex relationships among social media, body image, and mental health. As social media continues to shape societal perceptions of beauty, the challenges associated with maintaining a positive self-image in the digital age remain a critical area for exploration and intervention (Best et al., 2014).

Online spaces for self-presentation and social media play a major role in the significant prevalence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) among young users, around the world. An example would be in Saudi Arabia where the nation’s heavy reliance on social media hurts how people feel about their bodies, as demonstrated by the research done in 2020 by Alsaidan et al. BDD is fueled by the impossible standards established by supposed perfect bodies and carefully edited photos on social media sites like Instagram and Snapchat, which create a vicious cycle of comparison and self-criticism. 4.2% of participants in the study satisfied the criteria for BDD, with younger people having a greater risk of the condition. Notably, BDD was linked to more time spent on Snapchat and Instagram and an increased tendency to compare one’s appearance to celebrities on social media. The BDD group reported more incidents of harassment as well as a past medical history of mental health issues. The study conducted by Alsaidan highlights the importance of how social media can cause BDD, by simply comparing it to body images that cause concerns even with skin disfigurements (64.2%) or hair issues (42.3%).

The way that bodies are portrayed on social media correlates to a loss in mental health due to continuous self-criticism. People who are struggling with the increasing gap between their perceived and real identities are more likely to experience anxiety, sadness, and body dysmorphic disorders. A toxic mindset that undermines self-esteem and magnifies negative self-perceptions is fostered by frequent comparison due to social media. Furthermore, a study carried out in 2017 by Gkotsis et al. explores how social media contributes to the development of mental health disorders. The work applies informed analysis posts from the Reddit social media to identify and categorize posts on mental illness based on 11 disorder themes. The results show the potential of deep learning as a research tool, with a 91.08% accuracy rate in identifying postings connected to mental illness and a 71.37% weighted average accuracy rate in choosing the correct theme. To help with organized content and focused interventions for mental health, the study highlights how crucial it is to understand user-generated information on social media platforms.

The impact of social media on modern society is complex and affects social relationships on a worldwide scale. According to another study conducted in 2023 by Azzaakiyyah, social media offers advantages like improved connectedness, cross-cultural interaction, and emotional support. However, challenges arise, including “shared solitude,” as face-to-face interactions decline. When people create their online personas, their formation of identity changes, leading to unhealthy social comparisons and inaccurate self-perception. Social media promotes inclusivity and community development but makes it easier for false information to propagate. Fostering digital literacy, communication abilities, and moral online conduct are necessary to strike a balance. Education is essential to preserve the integrity of human connections in the digital age because it enables people to navigate the digital landscape responsibly and strike a good balance between virtual and in-person encounters. The influence goes beyond the person and impacts social relationships. Genuine connections suffer from avoidance behaviors resulting from self-criticism. Social media, which was first created to help people connect, unintentionally becomes an escape from loneliness as people avoid deep conversations out of fear of being judged for their presumed physical flaws.

In conclusion, the complex relationship between “self-criticism” and self-body image in the context of social media and self-image creates a complicated web of influences. This has been shown to possibly worsen body dysmorphia and has a severe influence on mental health and interpersonal relationships. While social media can be beneficial in allowing people to communicate and have long-lasting relationships with different individuals in all locations of the world, It is vital to acknowledge the important implications of self-criticism due to social media. Social media can allow individuals to develop an online community that embraces inclusivity and support. Moving forward, it is important to encourage people to accept and value who they really are. This becomes critical for overcoming the obstacles presented by the digital age, encouraging sincere relationships, and fostering community well-being.

References

Alsaidan, M. S., Altayar, N. S., Alshmmari, S. H., Alshammari, M. M., Alqahtani, F. T., & Mohajer, K. A. (2020). The prevalence and determinants of body dysmorphic disorder among young social media users: A cross-sectional study. Dermatology reports, 12(3), 8774. https://doi.org/10.4081/dr.2020.8774 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7772767/\

Gkotsis, G., Oellrich, A., Velupillai, S., Liakata, M., Hubbard, T. J. P., Dobson, R. J. B., & Dutta, R. (2017). Characterisation of mental health conditions in social media using informed Deep Learning. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/srep45141#citeas

Azzaakiyyah, H. (2023). The Impact of Social Media Use on Social Interaction in Contem-porary Society. Retrieved from https://journal.literasisainsnusantara.com/index.php/tacit/article/view/33/49

best, paul, manktelow, roger, taylor, brian, Barak, A., Campbell, R., Davis, K., … Killick, C. (2014). Online communication, social media and Adolescent Wellbeing: A systematic narrative review. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190740914000693