does social media influence the way we see ourselves?

Written by Julianna Bonnett

In social media's dazzling world, today's youth usually live their lives through an online audience. With younger people, getting 'likes' on photos, posts, or comments in the virtual world can bring a powerful sense of accomplishment and community acceptance.

Visual platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat deliver the tools that allow teens to feel a need for a certain approval for their appearance. According to a recent study done by Time Magazine, the ones who spent most of their time posting and commenting content on their social media accounts are the individuals that are driven to more acceptance from their peers.

Many studies have shown that a collection of people believe their self-worth is through their appearance and not from tangible things like brain and personality. With the digital age being at its highest, the Internet has become a great democratizer.

If wanted, anyone can alter themselves to look like someone else. Individuals can cover up pimples using a simple airbrushing tool, whiten teeth, shape their faces, and completely change their appearance with the swipe of a finger. Curating their image to become something hotter, thinner, and prettier in their eyes. This mindset applies an illustration of control, a thought thinking, "If I do this, I will feel beautiful and be more socially accepted." At the end of the day, though, a 'like' or being 'ranked' and feeling insecure becomes a blurred thought in mind.

Social media has become a negative social outlet for young teens. According to Eating Disorder Hope, some social media can influence eating disorders with the overwhelming amount of social media aspects on how you should look.

On average, in Canada, it is said that three percent of women are affected by an eating disorder once in their lifetime.

To learn more about how you can help someone struggling with an eating disorder, check out local non-profit BANA (Bulimia, Anorexia, Nervosa Association).

Since 1983, BANA has been committed to providing the Windsor-Essex area with specialized treatment, education and support services for individuals affected directly and indirectly by eating disorders.
 
https://bana.ca/
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