Social Media and How It Affects Our Self Image

by Kristen Cifelli | Thursday, Dec 02, 2021

With the increased use of social media in many people's lives on a day-to-day basis, self-image portrayed through social networks has seemed to change as well, influencing more than just new trends. Often a more "romanticized" version of one's life is presented through the eyes of a phone camera; at first glance, this may seem beneficial, but this phenomenon has considerable drawbacks. I am no stranger to the harmful effects of the multitude of posts put out by the millions of fitness influencers detailing every green smoothie they drink while unboxing a PR package from a name-brand clothing company in their perfect Los Angeles apartment.

The following blog includes personal and professional opinions on how social media has shaped the newer generation's perspective of their self-image, including both the positive and negative impacts.

So, who are these people, and how do they gain this influence?

Often, many of these individuals with a follower count post specific content to meticulously curate a self-brand around their particular niche. Apps such as Instagram and TikTok enable this self-promotion by making it extremely easy to achieve a lot of attention in a short amount of time. However, only seeing these carefully selected positive moments in an influencer's day has ended up causing many consumers of this content to question their own identity and worth. In a study done by Scope, almost half of the 1,200 18-34-year-old's felt unattractive when they looked at their social media feed, and in another study, around 60% of those surveyed "felt their own achievements were inadequate when compared to the posts of others." (Rundle)

Even more concerning is that other research has shown intensified exposure and overuse of social media has contributed to several psychological disorders, mental health risks, and physical health risks such as:

Depression
Anxiety
Jealousy
Loneliness or feeling of isolation
Self-harm
Poor body image
Eating disorders such as anorexia
Disrupted sleep

However, the most alarming observation is the rise in normalization of these side effects of social media. I often see and hear people explain their depression or poor body image due to posts they have seen online, whether from influencers or their friends. Despite this, they continue to spend hours on social media comparing themselves and judging others, even without realizing it. I am no exception - the number of "likes" I receive on my post causes me to question the worthiness of my image, and I constantly wonder if a better picture or a better edit would have fit the artificial standards of a "good" social media post. Leeching off this now common desire to alter photos, many editing apps are widely available for use just a download away, making it easy to see a picture and assume that is how that person looks all the time. It is crucial to understand that most images posted on the internet are captured at the perfect angle and often modified afterward to eliminate any possible blemishes. In contrast, editing can be helpful if used appropriately with an avid understanding that the photo is modified.

However, even with its many downsides, using social media is not always inherently wrong. There are many benefits of media, such as:

Interaction with friends and other users
Expression of opinions and ideas
Opportunity to learn new things
Development of group identities (such as within personal interests or culture)

Studies have shown that social media has led to stronger bonds and more friendships/relationships being formed. Media has also been able to link like-minded individuals by offering platforms to interact and show off creativity and intelligence. Additionally, for those who struggle with socialization, social networks provide a relatively easy way to express themselves and grow social skills and find out who they are. In a study done by the University of Pennsylvania, the results yielded that cutting down social media use to around 30 minutes per day averages the most advantages to one's daily life. This reduction to 30 minutes reduces the FOMO (or fear of missing out) that people experience when they spend several hours on social media. This time limit also curbs the issues associated with excessive social media use, such as "loneliness, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems" ("Social Media and Mental Health"). By practicing self-controlled social media use, one can better realize when they have spent enough time scrolling and need to unplug and see things from a more authentic point of view.

Looking past the manufactured nature of the posts seen on social media and understanding that most of the content only shows the most fun, exciting moments of someone's life is so important. It is exceptionally simple to misinterpret information on the internet, form opinions, and judge based on those inferences. That one girl who seems to have a perfect life and no flaws portrayed on social media may be suffering behind the scenes in ways nobody could have ever predicted. Even from personal experience, I only post the most exciting and best pictures of myself and my life, yet of course, I have plenty of flaws. We must realize that the image we see on social media is not real life. By reducing time spent on social media, you can differentiate the genuine versus fake experiences and improve your mental health.

As a takeaway, I challenge you to reduce your screen time and time spent on social media and assess your feelings towards yourself, not only within emotions but also your self-image.