What is body image?

Body image refers to the way we feel about our bodies. A positive body image means feeling comfortable and happy with your appearance, which is a healthy mindset we hope to promote and encourage. In contrast, a negative body image means feeling upset or embarrassed about their body and is an unhealthy perspective which can be worsened by comparing oneself to beauty standards portrayed in the media.

The online world can be an incredible place. It lets you learn new things, express your thoughts, and connect with others. However, it can also have a troubling impact on someone's body image. People with body image issues often feel worried or upset about their appearance. This might involve dissatisfaction with their weight, shape, skin colour and texture. They may feel upset about being too thin or too fat, too tall or too short, too curvy or not curvy enough, too dark or too fair. What’s important to understand is that everyone experiences body image differently. A feature that causes one person distress might be something another person wishes they had.

Men and women often have different concerns about their bodies, but body image is not a “women’s problem.” In fact, it is increasingly common for men to experience anxieties and concerns about their appearance, even though they may be less likely to talk about them. Regardless of why someone is dissatisfied with their body, the experience is felt in similar ways.

Why would social media and the internet cause someone to get body image issues?

There is a lot of research on how both social and traditional mass media influence how people see themselves. The problem arises when someone is overexposed to idealised images online and starts to internalise these standards, comparing their own body to what they see on the screen.

This comparison is unfair from the start, as many of these images are altered or staged. Yet, because they often appear realistic, it becomes easier for someone to believe that it is attainable or necessary. Unable to obtain the ideal image can lead to greater anxiety than someone who recognises these images as unrealistic and does not feel the need to live up to them.

One unique feature of the online world is social media, which is not just visual, but highly interactive. Having more likes and followers are indicators of a person’s popularity on social media, which can easily shape their sense of self-worth. Social media offers real-time feedback and validation, revealing which messages, images, or versions of someone are more "liked" by others. At the same time, the anonymous nature of some social media platforms also makes it easier for users to see when their content is disliked or ignored. These positive and negative signals can create immense pressure for someone to present themsovles in a single, socially acceptable way - the ‘right’ and ‘likeable’ version - online.

Social media often centres around appearances and people on these platforms tend to be selective in the version of themselves they choose to present. Many people follow celebrities and influencers, use editing apps like VSCO and Snapseed to enhance their photos, or apply film-style filters from apps like Huji or Kuji Cam to create a trendy aesthetic. It is not unusual for people to spend a lot of time thinking about how to pose, finding the best lighting and backdrops, and even timing their posts for optimum likes – all for one photo.

Ultimately, the stronger the connection between how someone looks and how much they feel they are worth, and the more effort they put into curating their online identity, the greater the potential for body image issues. It is easy to become trapped in a world where you anxiously wait for likes and comments, then feel disappointed and hurt you don't receive it. Sometimes this even leads to deleting posts to avoid others witnessing what feels like a failure.

What are the effects of body image issues?

Spending too much time online, particularly on social media
Anxious when going online
Feelings of self-doubt and self-hate
Lowered self-esteem
Self-harm
Depression
Eating disorders
Higher risk of suicide

I think someone I know has body image issues. How can I tell?

Body image issues can be hard to spot because they affect people in different ways. However, here are some signs you can look out for:

Spending more time online, especially on social media
Appearing upset or anxious when they go online
Taking more photos of themselves
Checking their appearance more often
Commenting about their appearance negatively
Hiding their body under baggy clothes
Exercising a lot more than usual
Eating a lot more or less than usual

How can I avoid letting social media affect my body image?

Change the media you are watching: look up content that is body positive and consume those instead – this means the music you listen to, the movies or shows you watch, and even the games you play
Find good influencers: extend this change to the social influencers you look at online, many have started to 'go real' and reveal the tricks that go into making a 'perfect' photo
Make more media: when you have a more active relationship with media – creating videos, virtual art, or music – you are less likely to just absorb the content you see as you understand how much work goes into creating these images
Question the status quo: when you see media, like movies or TV shows, that show certain body types positively instead of others, ask yourself questions like why these body shapes are being shown in those ways, what the creators are trying to say, and what people might think watching it.
Check yourself: only you can know how much your self-worth depends on your appearance, so try your best to stop yourself from making these connections
Compliment yourself: praise yourself for qualities beyond your appearance, such as your other characteristics and achievements, and remind yourself that you are worth more your looks
Learn about other types of people: think about people who have succeeded in their fields for reasons outside their appearance, and despite their body shape or ability – like Stephen Hawking, Maya Angelou, Katherine Johnson, or Alan Turing
Learn about the industries involved: read up about the profit-making fashion, diet, and media industries, which collectively earn billions a year off people’s insecurities. This might break away some of the mysticism around the issue of body image and concretise it to real motives and consequences.

Body Image Issues Caused By Social Media

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