How Social Media Affects Body Image

Comparing Self To Others

When insecure children spend too much time comparing their looks to others online, they risk sometimes becoming fixated on the appearance of exceptionally attractive peers or celebrities, a distortion furthered by the media. For example, according to Common Sense Media, roughly eighty-seven percent of the lead female characters on television shows geared toward teenagers were under the average weight for their age. Matters are made worse by the growing ability to modify one's pictures before posting them online, presenting an unrealistically polished look to the world. As a result, insecure users often develop unrealistic expectations for how they should look.

Unfortunately, the digital format of social media platforms lends itself to frequently looking at one's own social feedback and comparing it to others'. When young individuals see that the posts of some of their peers consistently gets more praise and attention, their insecurities about their social standing can worsen. Additionally, if they perceive this particular peer as being more attractive, it can further cement their insecurities about their looks.

Cyberbullying

The presence of impersonal and anonymous comments also makes social media users vulnerable to cyberbullying, which can compound the problems we've already covered. Some individuals can be shockingly cruel in their online interactions, and when cyberbullies attack children who are already insecure, the experience can be traumatic. Cyberbullying sometimes preys on a girl's insecurities by unfavorably comparing her to others, further reinforcing the notion a person's value is determined by his or her looks and ability to get positive feedback from social media followers.

One study found twenty-one percent of children between twelve and eighteen have been the victim of online bullying. The increased pressure from cyberbullies can be so intense that some girls are lead to develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, roughly 2.7 percent of children between the ages of thirteen and eighteen suffer from eating disorders. This number jumps to 3.8 percent if you only look at the statistics for adolescent girls. These conditions can create significant health risks, with many cases requiring intensive therapy and work to recover from.