Influence of social networks on body perception
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32870/jbf.v5i9.79Keywords:
body image satisfaction, body image, social media influence, psychological well-beingAbstract
The media, especially social media, play a key role in spreading beauty ideals, contributing to body dissatisfaction among young people and adolescents, particularly females. These platforms have transformed the way we communicate by enabling two-way interactions. Moreover, they have become spaces that encourage social comparison and promote beauty ideals that undermine or
negatively influence personal perceptions of body image, understood as the set of thoughts and feelings about one’s own body, shaped by social, cultural, and individual factors. This concept is especially relevant among youth, who are more susceptible to the beauty standards imposed by the media. These standards, particularly thinness, can lead to risky behaviors, low self-esteem, eating disorders, and symptoms of depression or anxiety that affect overall health. Despite their negative impact on body image perception, social media can also become spaces that foster body diversity and acceptance. Strategies such as focusing on the body’s functionality and diversity, adopting a critical perspective toward unrealistic content, and limiting or taking breaks from these platforms are suggested. In this way, social media can serve as positive tools for promoting a more inclusive view of the body.
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