By Giannie Agrispin ’26
Every time I scroll through my phone, I am bombarded with perfect bodies, flawless skin, and unrealistic beauty standards that are nearly impossible to meet. Whether it’s on TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat, social media is constantly showcasing what a “perfect” body looks like. Considering all of this, it is clear that social media negatively affects body image by promoting unrealistic beauty standards, encouraging comparisons, and contributing to mental health problems.
Social media platforms are filled with pictures and videos that promote unattainable beauty standards. Oftentimes, the media shows that thin waists, toned muscles and clear skin are what is considered perfect. In the article “Body Image in The Media is an Unhealthy Picture,” Lynn-nore Finley goes into detail about how beauty standards have dated back way into the 1920s. Since then, women have constantly been pressured to be thin and perfect. She states, “Tyra Banks was photographed in a one-piece bathing suit while on vacation in Sydney, Australia. The photographs were posted on the internet with headlines describing Banks as fat.”
It can be detrimental to someone’s mental health and image of themselves when they are put on the spot and humiliated like this. When it comes to the media, many people have no filter, and say whatever they want without thinking of how it affects others. Seeing unnatural bodies on social media and being caught up with the latest beauty trends can make it hard to appreciate our own bodies and view ourselves as beautiful too.
George Gallup Jr, author of “Body Image, Extreme Dieting, and the Media,” says that “In 2001, more than half of teen girls told the Gallup Youth Survey that they would be ‘more pleased’ about their appearance if they were thinner.” Gallup elaborates on his earlier research, saying that in his survey results, many teens said that they wanted to look like models that they’ve seen on TV, and that they have developed types of eating disorders.
In today’s society, social media is getting to a point where 10 minutes of scrolling can plant unhealthy thoughts into your head. It’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends, and beauty standards, but it’s important to know that giving constant attention to your appearance can create more problems. These habits can cause buildup, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, especially in these developmental stages of life. It’s important to be aware of the potential downsides of social media, and how to prevent its effect on you.
In the article “Social Media Becomes a Battleground on Body Image,” Kristen Tillotson goes into depth about the possible consequences of obsessing over social media and what is called “thinspo.” Thinspo is pictures of very thin people online that are glamourized by others with unhealthy habits. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, “about 8 percent of girls and 4 percent of boys ages 10 to 17 have an eating disorder.” This statistic shows how vulnerable young people are and how posts like “thinspo” can be very harmful, because they are encouraging people to believe that if they starve themselves, they will look like the pictures they see.
At the end of the day, social media plays a big role in shaping us and our society. It can be a fun way to pass time or connect with others, but we also have to remember that it has the power to influence how we view ourselves. It only continues to prove how important it is to think critically about what we are scrolling through and taking in. Social media platforms are a constant reminder of how we need to be more cautious with what we are letting into our day-to- day lives. By being more mindful of what we consume online, it can be easier to protect our mental health and view of ourselves.
Sources:
https://research.ebsco.com/c/ewxrxc/viewer/html/suyl4gipf5?route=details&auth-callid=d7c3b170-1797-41bc-80a9-2e74a7bba866
https://research.ebsco.com/c/ewxrxc/viewer/html/74p3lhrqyv
https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=d0b40210-5bef-3bb3-a4ee-09364a9ef4dc
Social Media Has a Negative Affect on Body Image
By Giannie Agrispin ’26
Every time I scroll through my phone, I am bombarded with perfect bodies, flawless skin, and unrealistic beauty standards that are nearly impossible to meet. Whether it’s on TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat, social media is constantly showcasing what a “perfect” body looks like. Considering all of this, it is clear that social media negatively affects body image by promoting unrealistic beauty standards, encouraging comparisons, and contributing to mental health problems.
Social media platforms are filled with pictures and videos that promote unattainable beauty standards. Oftentimes, the media shows that thin waists, toned muscles and clear skin are what is considered perfect. In the article “Body Image in The Media is an Unhealthy Picture,” Lynn-nore Finley goes into detail about how beauty standards have dated back way into the 1920s. Since then, women have constantly been pressured to be thin and perfect. She states, “Tyra Banks was photographed in a one-piece bathing suit while on vacation in Sydney, Australia. The photographs were posted on the internet with headlines describing Banks as fat.”
It can be detrimental to someone’s mental health and image of themselves when they are put on the spot and humiliated like this. When it comes to the media, many people have no filter, and say whatever they want without thinking of how it affects others. Seeing unnatural bodies on social media and being caught up with the latest beauty trends can make it hard to appreciate our own bodies and view ourselves as beautiful too.
George Gallup Jr, author of “Body Image, Extreme Dieting, and the Media,” says that “In 2001, more than half of teen girls told the Gallup Youth Survey that they would be ‘more pleased’ about their appearance if they were thinner.” Gallup elaborates on his earlier research, saying that in his survey results, many teens said that they wanted to look like models that they’ve seen on TV, and that they have developed types of eating disorders.
In today’s society, social media is getting to a point where 10 minutes of scrolling can plant unhealthy thoughts into your head. It’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends, and beauty standards, but it’s important to know that giving constant attention to your appearance can create more problems. These habits can cause buildup, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, especially in these developmental stages of life. It’s important to be aware of the potential downsides of social media, and how to prevent its effect on you.
In the article “Social Media Becomes a Battleground on Body Image,” Kristen Tillotson goes into depth about the possible consequences of obsessing over social media and what is called “thinspo.” Thinspo is pictures of very thin people online that are glamourized by others with unhealthy habits. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, “about 8 percent of girls and 4 percent of boys ages 10 to 17 have an eating disorder.” This statistic shows how vulnerable young people are and how posts like “thinspo” can be very harmful, because they are encouraging people to believe that if they starve themselves, they will look like the pictures they see.
At the end of the day, social media plays a big role in shaping us and our society. It can be a fun way to pass time or connect with others, but we also have to remember that it has the power to influence how we view ourselves. It only continues to prove how important it is to think critically about what we are scrolling through and taking in. Social media platforms are a constant reminder of how we need to be more cautious with what we are letting into our day-to- day lives. By being more mindful of what we consume online, it can be easier to protect our mental health and view of ourselves.
Sources:
https://research.ebsco.com/c/ewxrxc/viewer/html/suyl4gipf5?route=details&auth-callid=d7c3b170-1797-41bc-80a9-2e74a7bba866
https://research.ebsco.com/c/ewxrxc/viewer/html/74p3lhrqyv
https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=d0b40210-5bef-3bb3-a4ee-09364a9ef4dc