Difference between revisions of "Social media's effects on adolescent girls' body image"

Revision as of 02:47, 10 February 2023

Summary

Social media’s effects on adolescent girls' body imageis associated with body dissatisfaction and even dangerous behavior ^[1]. These unproductive behaviors and obsessions range from compulsively evaluating one's body and engaging in unhealthy fad diets to physical self harm like eating disorders. Arguably equally as serious, severe disappointment with one’s body may lead to dysfunctional eating patterns that create pathways toward depression. Reactions to media can vary because of factors like the social networking platform, the environment of the individual, ethnicity, whether media icons are human or virtually, and more. Considering that adolescent girls are at the intersection of youth and femininity, social scientists and community members alike have shown concern for the ethical implications of social media’s effects on this group in particular. While literature on this specific demographic has risen significantly in recent years, continuing research is a priority given the ever evolving nature of technology.

Relevance of Demographics

Axis of Gender

This specific grouping of adolescent girls is of interest to those studying the effects of social networking for two major reasons. In terms of gender expression, there is a notable discrepancy in the effect that media use had on body image. A 2013 study from University of Minnesota showed that girls of this age have higher levels of body dissatisfaction as compared to their male counterparts. With that being said, this study has multiple limitations, the most prominent one being in its adherence to the gender binary (produced no data on intersex or non-binary individuals). ^[2] This limitation was not unique to this study: the available literature that evaluates gender difference in body image tends to . Because of this, most journals include a paragraph on how continuing research is critical to add the currently incomplete data ^[3]

Axis of Age

Additionally, in the last 20 years, adolescents as a whole have increased their online presence rampantly. ^[4] This staggering increase in exposure to media has made this age group a focus in numerous studies; Epidemiological statistics from the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health even suggests that in a 24 hour period, on average, this age group spends more of their time using electronics than sleeping. ^[5] Additionally, due to adolescence being a period of physical and mental development, confusion with body image can be heightened. Moreover, cognitive function like judgment and decision making is lowered due to an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex. ^[6] This means that this particular age group is potentially extra vulnerable to addiction to social networking sites, a habit that is associated with depression and isolation. ^[7] Not only is addiction a possibility when heavily engaging with this material, the combination of these two factors spotlight the cause for growing ethical concerns about adolescent girls’ use of social networking sites.

The Essentially Unattainable Beauty Standard

Many experts cite the over representation of people who are the beauty standard (and thus the under representation of those who fall short of these standards) to be a top cause for body dissatisfaction.​​ ^[8] The beauty standard in America is an evolving concept that historically has placed thinness, eurocentricity, and wealth at its center.​​ ^[9] The ethical issue that comes along with the beauty standard, aside from its inherently exclusionary nature, is that in combination with modern day plastic surgery and digital editing technology like photoshop, the bar for what is beautiful is constantly raised through deceptive media practices or denial of surgical intervention. In terms of how this manifests dangerously on social media, networks like Instagram often showcase bodies without a disclosure of whether the photo is edited or if the person has received cosmetic work. This puts adolescent girls who are viewing this content and assuming it is all natural and unedited at risk. Without the age and experience to know what is fake and what is not, they are potentially going to believe that they have to live up to impossible beauty standards that they learn to understand on social media. Moreover, when one's body image perception does not match their perception of their personal ideal, it can result in disordered eating such as obesity, anorexia, and bulimia.​​ ^[10]

Overview of Literature

In the present media environment, social networking sites accelerate the distribution of bodies considered ideal. A 2021 meta-analysis of more than 20 experimental studies found that exposure of images on social media depicting the ideal appearance cause users to have a moderately negative body image effect. ^[11] Social Networking Sites like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, and Twitter all have been evaluated to see their individual and combined effects on female, adolescent users. Notably, the data from the study showed that body dissatisfaction does not predict how much one will use social media. This relationship is crucial to understand the direction of the cause-affect nature of body dissatisfaction and media usage in adolescent girls. This discovery clarifies that social media is not being sought out by people with poor body image. ^[12] Rather, social media causes people to develop body dissatisfaction and poor body image. Additionally, a study from the University of Miami found that maladaptive usage, such as using Facebook to make social comparisons between self and peers and seek negative feedback from peers, were associated with higher than usual body dissatisfaction. These findings suggest that social media XX. ^[13]

Conflicting data

While ample accredited and peer reviewed studies have shown that social media has poor effects on the body image of adolescent girls, there are other well researched opinions regarding this issue. To fully understand all the dynamics of the relationship between media and self image, it is important not to overlook the data, even if it is in the minority, that shows possible benefits to adolescent well-being that social media networks make available. For instance, one study published in the journal of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry showed that some adolescents utilize social media to promote their mental health. Additionally, they rationalized this usage by drawing connections to the field of developmental psychology. This field regards the presence of strong peer relationships, social skills, and support networks as vital for averting the onset of mental health conditions and promoting overall well-being. This need for connection, as evidenced by the study, is oftentimes facilitated by social networks and therefore, provides examples of social media positively impacting the psychology of adolescent girls. In fact, during some discussions throughout the study, multiple adolescents disclosed that they use social media as a protective factor quite often. ^[14]

Mitigating Factors of Body Dissatisfaction

Body Positive Imagery

There are ways to combat negative effects of social media usage. One strategy is increasing user’s exposure to body positive imagery. In a study that examined the efficacy of micro interventions on body image, researchers found that small changes like viewing body positive Facebook posts for a few weeks improved participants' body image.^[15] Another factor that can combat undesirable effects on body image are protective factors. Protective factors can include parental support, parental guidance, and self appreciation.^[16] There is also preliminary empirical evidence supporting media literacy being a protective factor for body image but researchers want more exploration to see how social media literacy skills may impact different groups.^[17]

Virtual Influencers

Positive Mother-Adolescent Relationship

Contributing Factors of Body Dissatisfaction

Effects of race and ethnicity

Ethnicity’s Studied Effect

Race’s Studied Effect

References

1. ↑ MedMinder Pill Dispensers
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13. ↑ [ Smith, A. R., Hames, J. L., & Joiner, T. E. (2013). Status update: Maladaptive facebook usage predicts increases in body dissatisfaction and bulimic symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders, 149(1-3), 235–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.01.032
14. ↑ [O’Reilly, M., Dogra, N., Whiteman, N., Hughes, J., Eruyar, S., & Reilly, P. (2018). Is social media bad for Mental Health and Wellbeing? exploring the perspectives of adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 23(4), 601–613. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104518775154
15. ↑ [Sukamto, M., Hamidah, H., & Fajrianthi, F. (2019). “Can i look like her?”: Body image of adolescent girls who use social media. Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia, 23(1), 60. https://doi.org/10.7454/hubs.asia.1120519
16. ↑ [
17. ↑ [ Paxton, S. J., McLean, S. A., & Rodgers, R. F. (2022). “My critical filter buffers your app filter”: Social Media Literacy as a protective factor for Body Image. Body Image, 40, 158–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.12.009