What is Social Media Body Image?
Social media body image is the perception that people have about their own body which is often shaped by images and messages seen in social media This idea of body image is based on the notion that people have of themselves as members of a particular gender, race, and social class. It can also be based on the media's depiction of what society considers to be attractive or desirable.
Social media body image includes such examples as a slim figure for women or ruggedness for men. It also includes images of body modification such as tattoos or plastic surgery, or the use of makeup to create a certain look. Additionally, it includes the portrayal of certain body types as more attractive or desirable than others.
Social media body image can have a significant influence on the way people view themselves and their self-esteem. People may feel that they need to live up to the ideals presented by social media in order to feel accepted or attractive. This can lead to feelings of insecurity or low self-esteem, as well as feelings of guilt or shame when they are not able to meet these standards.
The five best examples of social media influencing body image are as follows:
1. Instagram filters. Instagram has a variety of filters available that people can use to create certain looks with their pictures. These filters can be used to enhance features such as skin tone, hair, and facial features, creating a false sense of perfection that can give people unrealistic expectations for their own looks.
2. Photoshopping images. Photoshop has been used for decades to enhance photos, creating unrealistic images of what people should look like. This can have a huge impact on people’s self-image, as they strive for an impossible goal.
3. Social media influencers. Instagram and other social media platforms have a range of influencers who promote ‘perfect’ looks. Often these influencers are paid large sums of money to promote products and show off their body images. This can create a sense of envy and can lead to people striving to copy these looks.
4. Makeup tutorials/hauls. YouTube and other social media platforms are filled with makeup tutorials and hauls, where people show off their makeup and give advice on how to apply it. This can create an ideal of how people should look, and can lead to feelings of inadequacy if they don’t meet this ideal.
5. Celebrity culture. Celebrities are often held up as the ideal for body image, especially for younger people. As the media focuses on a certain set of features or body types, this can create an unrealistic goal for people to achieve.
These examples show that social media can have a huge impact on the way people view themselves and their body image. It can create unrealistic expectations and lead to feelings of insecurity or low self-esteem. People should be mindful of the images they consume and how they may be impacting their own self-image.