Vivian Ayako Mudavuda

Aesthetics: The impact of social media on personal aesthetics and self-image. Abstract Social media is an integral part of your daily life. While it enables you to connect, share, and learn, there’s a negative side to this virtual realm. The pervasive influence of social media has a profound effect on your psychological well-being. And the way you perceive yourself, particularly in terms of self-esteem and body image. Social media platforms are curated galleries of seemingly perfect lives. Filters, editing tools, and carefully chosen post creates an illusion of flawless beauty and unattainable lifestyles. This perfection leads to unrealistic comparisons with your own lives and detrimental self-evaluation. Keywords Aesthetic, social media, self-image. Introduction There are numerous social media platforms available, each catering to different interests and communication styles. Here are popular forms of social media. 1. Facebook: It has over 2.8 million monthly active users. Facebook is the largest social networking platform. It allows you to connect with friends and family, join groups, share photos and videos, and follow pages of interest. 2. Instagram: It focuses on visual content, Instagram boast more than 1 billion monthly active users. It allows you to share photos and videos with captions, apply filters, follow other users, and engage through likes and comments. 3. Twitter: Known for its concise messaging format, Twitter has approximately 330 million monthly active users. It enables you to share short posts (tweets), follow other users, and engage in public conversation using hashtags. 4. LinkedIn: Geared toward professionals, LinkedIn has more than 774 million members. It serves as a platform for networking, job searching, and professional development through sharing work experiences, skills, and industry news. 5. YouTube: It is the largest video-sharing platform, YouTube has over 2 billion monthly active users. You can upload, view, like, comment on, and share videos on various topics. Social media is powerful in shaping your perceptions of beauty and body image. With Instagram filters and TikTok trends, the influence has never been more prevalent. Constant exposure can shape your perception of beauty and self-worth, but not all of it is negative. Social media also has the power to encourage body positivity and self-acceptance, with movements promoting all body types and encouraging people to make positive decisions about their bodies. Self-image-and social-media How can social media affect your body image? Technology continues to blend into everyday life. Social media is becoming indispensable for communicating, sharing, and perceiving one another. With exposure to a world of idealized images and messages, it’s no surprise that it inevitably impacts how you view yourself. Idealized realities on social media can distort and confuse your ideas of beauty and success. However, it can offer a platform for body positivity and community support, positively impacting your perceptions of yourself. This prompts an important conversation about online content consumption and sharing, encouraging exploration and awareness to foster a healthy self-image. In this blog, we shall explore the effects of social media on body image. The Negative Effects Social media can hurt your body image. The survey looked at the effects of social media on sexual minority men. It was found that there was a link between social media use and signs of negative body image, including body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms. This is true, especially for men who use image-centric social media platforms like Instagram. The 2023 paper found that using social media is a plausible risk factor for the development of eating disorders. Here are ways social media can negatively impact your body image. 1. Pressure to Lose Weight Do you know that social media is a breeding ground for weight shaming and body negativity? Whether it's through product promotions or outright fat-shaming, you are subjected to unrealistic ideals. A report by Scientific American highlights that the pressure to lose weight, emphasized by social media platforms like TikTok, can impact physical and mental health, potentially leading to eating disorders. Instead of focusing on losing weight, social media should encourage body positivity and overall wellness. Exposure to diverse body types and positive messaging can decrease negative body image and improve self-esteem. Note: When scrolling through social media, be mindful of the content you consume and support body diversity. 2. Promotion of Unreasonable Standards A lot of body image standards shown on social media are unattainable. Because much of what you are viewing is either edited or comes from someone whose job is to keep up that perfect look. We have platforms like Instagram, known for hosting edited images that enhance physical features to fit specific aesthetics. Flawless skin, sculpted bodies, and perfect proportions are the norm, but they don’t reflect reality. Promoting unrealistic standards is problematic because it sets impossible beauty and health benchmarks. When you compare yourself to these edited images, you might start feeling not quite up to par. It's important to realize these images are not reality, and you are beautiful. 3. Exposure to Quickly Changing Trends The rapid pace of social media trends adds more complexity to the matter. One minute, the thigh gap is huge, and the next, it's all about a curvy figure. The quickly changing trends aren’t limited to fashion or lifestyle but extend to body types, making it difficult for you to keep up. The issue is twofold: the trends dictate a narrow view of attractiveness and ignore the fact that body types cannot and should not be changed as easily as clothing styles. The New York Times highlighted students’ perspectives on this matter, saying that positive content can help mitigate this pressure by promoting acceptance and the understanding that one’s value isn’t tied to body shape or size. 4. Cyberbullying Cyberbullying refers to the act of using digital technologies to engage in bullying behavior. It occurs on various online platforms, such as social media, messaging apps, gaming sites, and mobile devices. Involves repetitive actions intended to intimidate, provoke anger, or embarrass the individual being targeted. It is a modern problem, appearing in many ways, from coordinated bullying campaigns to harmful comments under posts. Social media’s anonymity and reach amplify the impact of these actions, allowing harmful messages to spread faster and further. Moreover, online attacks can come from people you know, making it harder to escape. This increasing popularity of anonymity provided by social media platforms appears to be increasingly prominent in perpetrating, sometimes leading to cyberbullying and spaces where people become victims of cyberbullying. According to a study by Ditch the Label (2013), it was reported that 21% of teenagers in the US encountered frequent incidents of cyberbullying. Negative comments, body shaming, and online harassment can severely impact an individual’s self-esteem and body image. Cyberbullying can lead to serious emotional distress, anxiety, and even depression in the victims. Also, interpersonal relationships can be adversely impacted, including those with family, friends, and romantic partners. The constant exposure to negative comments can deeply affect self-esteem and body image. The same social media can drive positive change as a platform for support and empowerment. There are communities on social platforms that create a safe space for those facing body issues and cyberbullying, offering resources, support, and acceptance to combat negativity and promote body positivity. 5. Encouragement to Self-Critique With an emphasis on visual content, social platforms can inadvertently promote an environment where self-scrutiny becomes normal. The comparison cycle and self-critique impact mental health, and this leads to unhealthy behaviors as people try to match the norms of attractiveness and success presented online. A Child Mind Institute article explores this issue, revealing how teenagers curate their online images to display the most attractive aspects of their lives. They feel left behind compared to their peers’ seemingly perfect lives, made worse by curated, enhanced images on social media. Break this cycle and embrace your present and personal achievements. 6. Constant comparison One of the most significant drawbacks of social media is the tendency to compare yourself with others, particularly among young women. Scrolling through feeds filled with perfect individuals can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Research indicates that women assess their appearance through comparisons with others, and the more they engage in such comparisons, the more likely they are to be dissatisfied with their bodies. Exposure to Facebook has the potential to affect people’s moods. A study has found that exposure to Facebook leads to a decline in mood in young women, likely attributable to their tendencies to compare themselves to others on the platform who seem to have happier or more fulfilled lives. 7. Unrealistic Beauty Standards Social media usually promotes unrealistic beauty standards, emphasizing certain body types, skin tones, and features. Constant exposure to the ideas can distort your perception of your own body, leading to body dissatisfaction and even body dysmorphia. Studies have consistently linked the use of social networking sites to issues related to body image and disordered eating for both men and women. 8. Idealizing Dangerous Habits Social media content sometimes overtly encourages low self-image. A 2022 study on TikTok and diet culture found that popular TikTok content often promotes disordered eating habits to viewers, presenting thinner body types as more ideal and preying on the viewers' insecurities around their bodies. The research found that teenagers are likely to see content promoting eating disorders within eight minutes of creating a new account. The content has serious real-world consequences. A 2024 study noted that “thinspiration” or “fitspiration” is likely to trigger poor body image and eating disorders, especially in young people who are prone to the behaviors. 9. Seeking Validation and Social Approval The proliferation of social media has also fueled the need for validation and social approval among young people. The number of likes, comments, and followers has become a measure of self-worth, amplifying the pressure to present an idealized version of yourself online. Acosta says the desire for external validation can lead to the adoption of unhealthy behaviors such as excessive self-promotion, seeking attention through provocative images or posts, and even resorting to online bullying or negative comparisons to others. 10. Fear of Missing Out Youth are bombarded with constant updates on the lives of their peers through social media. The fear of missing out intensifies when scrolling through posts about parties, travel, achievements, or milestones. The comparison can foster a sense of dissatisfaction with your own life and accomplishments, leading to a negative self-perception, Acosta says. “The curated nature of social media feeds often fails to represent the full spectrum of experiences and emotions, reinforcing an unrealistic sense of what a successful or fulfilled life should look like. 11. The Illusion of Perfection Social media platforms are flooded with meticulously curated profiles showcasing seemingly perfect lives, flawless appearances, and ideal bodies. Acosta says, “The constant exposure to images of seemingly perfect individuals can lead you to develop unrealistic expectations about their own appearance and life achievements.” She continues that comparing oneself to these distorted representations can lead to feelings of inadequacy, lowered self-esteem, and even body dysmorphia. Positive Impacts of Social Media on Self-Esteem Social media has become important part of our lives, connecting you with friends, family, and even strangers from around the world. Having concerns about the negative effects of social media, it's important to acknowledge the positive impact it has on self-esteem. let look at ways social media can influence self-esteem positively. 1. Connecting with Community for Support One of the benefits of social media is the ability to connect with like-minded individuals and find support within a community. Ways in which social media boosts yourself esteem: Validation: Social media platforms provide opportunities to share your thoughts, experiences, and achievements. When you receive positive feedback and validation from others who relate to your journey, it boosts your self-esteem. Emotional support: Online communities that focus on personal growth, mental health, or specific interests offer a safe space to share struggles and receive emotional support. Interacting with others who have similar experiences helps you feel understood and less alone. Accountability: Being part of a supportive community provides you with the accountability you need to reach your goals. Sharing your aspirations and progress with others who genuinely care motivates you to take action and boost your self-confidence. 2. Finding Inspiration Through Images and Quotes Ways in which social media can positively impact your self-esteem: Motivation: Following accounts that share uplifting content inspires you to push through challenges and strive for personal growth. These motivational quotes serve as daily reminders of your potential and boost your confidence. Role Models: It allows you to connect with individuals who have achieved success in areas you aspire to excel in. Following their journey and learning from their experiences, you gain valuable insights and build your self-esteem. Visualization: Visual content on social media can help you visualize the life you desire. Seeing others living their best lives inspires you to set higher standards for yourself and believe that you, too, can achieve greatness. 3. Discovering Opportunities for Growth and Development Social media provides countless opportunities for your growth and development. Here are some ways: Learning Resources: Many experts and organizations share valuable resources, articles, and videos on social media platforms. Accessing educational materials helps you acquire new knowledge and skills, boosting your self-esteem as you expand your capabilities. Networking: social media allows you to connect with professional in your field of interest or those who share similar passions. Building a network of likeminded people open doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and personal growth. Showcasing your talent: It provides a stage to showcase your talents, whether it’s through sharing your artwork, writing, or other creative endeavors. Receiving positive feedback and recognition for your skills can significantly enhance your self-esteem. Way for Optimizing Use of Social Media to Enhance Self-Esteem 1. Set healthy Boundaries with time spent on social media platforms. To prevent social media from negatively impacting your self-esteem, it is important to set boundaries for the time you spend on the platforms. Tips to help you achieve: Allocate specific time slots for using social media and stick to them. Disable notifications to minimize distractions and interruptions Limit the number of social media platforms you actively engage with Engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment outside of social media. 2. Focus Only on Positive Interaction The way you interact with others on social media can significantly impact your self-esteem. It is important to focus on the positive interactions and cultivate a supportive online community. Consider these strategies: Engage in meaningful conversations and offer support to others. Avoid engaging in negative or toxic discussions that will harm your self-esteem. Always share uplifting content that promotes positivity and inspiration. Build relationships with like-minded individuals who uplift and encourage you. 3. Create An Authentic Profile that Reflects Who You Are To enhance self-esteem on social media, create an authentic profile that reflects your true self. Tips to help you out: Choose a profile picture that represents your genuine personality and values. Share posts and updates that reflect your passions, interests, and achievements. Avoid comparing yourself to others and focus on showcasing your unique qualities. Be honest and transparent in your interactions, avoiding the temptation to present a false image. Conclusion It is important to be aware of the potential negative impact on your self-esteem. Understanding the comparison trap, effects of cyberbullying, and the fear of missing out, you can navigate social media in a way that promotes positive mental well-being. While there are concerns about the negative impacts of social media on self-esteem, it’s important to recognize the positive influence it can have. Connecting with supportive communities, finding inspiration through images and quotes, and discovering new opportunities for growth and development, social media can become a powerful tool for boosting self-esteem and personal transformation. Optimizing the use of social media to enhance self-esteem requires setting healthy boundaries, focusing on positive interactions and creating an authentic online presence. Implementing these strategies, you can harness the power of social media to boost your self-esteem and mental well-being. Note that social media should be a tool for empowerment, connection, and inspiration. You should use it wisely and consciously to create a positive digital footprint that aligns with your values and supports your personal growth. Understanding how social posts are curated and chosen can help you keep a healthier, grounded view of yourself and the online sphere. While social media undeniably affects our self-esteem and body image, it is important to recognize its impact and actively work towards a healthier relationship with the platforms. Fostering self-compassion, curating your digital environment, and seeking support when needed, such as through individual or couple therapy, you can navigate the digital landscape with confidence and resilience. Always remember that your worth is not determined by the likes or comments on your social media posts- true self-love comes from within. References Alim, S. (2016). 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Journal of School Violence, 14(1), 11-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/-.Vivian Mudavuda – Vivian writes. Meta Description: Learn the impact of social media on personal aesthetics and self-image.