Mind4Youth

Author: Sriteesha Koniki

Do people experience feelings of worthlessness and inferiority after viewing an Instagram post or a TikTok video? The answer is yes, “Eighty-six percent of Americans ages 16 to 24 report that social media negatively impacts their happiness” (Walters). This shows a statistic of how many people are impacted by online platforms. People constantly compare themselves to unrealistic standards on the internet, which harms people’s self-esteem and body image as it can develop eating disorders and have a disastrous impact on their mental health.

To start, social media is often used to portray the perfect image of life by prompting many users to compare themselves to this false reality which can result in eating disorders. Although there has not been scientific data on the relationship social media has with eating disorders, many studies have discovered that they are correlated. Dr. Lopez Witmer declared in the article “Does Social Media Drive Eating Disorders?”, that the average age of creating media platforms is similar to the average age of the development of an eating disorder, which is around the age of 12. The media often promotes unhealthy beauty standards such as having thin bodies, encouraging people to lose weight to conform to these standards. The audience will now begin to turn to rigorous diets such as skipping meals, even if it comes at the expense of their physical health. According to one study, “at least 30 million people in the United States are currently suffering from an eating disorder” and have “the highest mortality rate of any mental illness” (Witmer). Even if biological, environmental, and psychological factors all play a role in eating disorders, social media should not be added to the list. People should not rely on social media about their appearance and health but should instead consult a professional in terms of changing meal plans.

Secondly, an individual’s mental health can be impacted by the harmful content posted on social media foundations. The media frequently emphasizes that fair-skinned, good-looking people with thin physiques are happy and have better lives than everyone else. They also tend to encourage influencers that boost these beauty standards by posting diet regimens or fitness videos to achieve the ideal body. When a person does not meet the norm, they begin comparing themselves and their lifestyles to others who have the perfect figure and appear to be happy all of the time. Barbara Jiotsa states, “In a 2021 study of 15 to 35-year-olds, the more they compared themselves to people they followed on social media, the more dissatisfied they became with their bodies”. These frequent comparisons can make someone feel insecure and inferior, leading to a variety of mental conditions such as depression. As an example, “Researchers have noted a rise in depression among young people since about 2012, with use of social media among teens and their amount of time spent online increasing in close proximity” (Helen Bouygues). Spending excessive time on social media and comparing oneself to others can have a bad impact on the body and brain, as well as undermine their self-esteem because they do not have an appearance that matches the unattainable ideals that social media depicts. Situations like these can have an impact on a person’s mental wellness.

In contrast, social media aids in the evolution of body positivity. People on the internet upload realistic versions of celebrity photos for amusement, but it also increases awareness that all bodies are unique and beautiful, even if they have body hair, stretch marks, or flabby skin. As said by Terry Nicquel, another positive impact is that “fat shaming” is far less common now and is more embraced and encouraged than it was previously (Niquel). Many people also dedicate their time to promoting self-love and body positivity online. Regardless of whether there is more positivity, there are more negative effects than positive ones. An article titled “Does Social Media Affect Your Body Image?” enabled students to express their experiences with how social media affects their body image, and here is what a student has stated: “People commented on any negative detail they could find about me. Some commented on my lanky, lean stature, which led to insecure thoughts. I thought I had to “appear ” stronger so I would not have been made fun of”. Having hundreds or even thousands of individuals online criticize your physique can be extremely damaging to your mental health and might lead to terrible cases such as suicide. Despite the tremendous amount of progress around body image on social media, more work has yet to be done.

Although social media promotes body positivity and portrays more realistic body types, it can still have a significant impact on a person’s body image and self-esteem since it can contribute to eating disorders, as well as impact their mental health. These days, social media has drawn a lot of attention to critical issues like racism, cultural appropriation, gun regulations, gender equality, and of course, body image. However, it appears to have more harmful consequences than favorable ones. If there is less criticism about body image, it can benefit thousands of people.