Body Dysmorphia And Social Media Essay

Kayla Estrada
Mrs. Turano
English 3
13 March 2023

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, with many individuals spending hours scrolling through various platforms. While social media has provided numerous benefits, such as connecting people from all over the world, it has also had some negative impacts. In recent years, there has been an increasing concern regarding the effects of social media on body image, eating disorders, and body dysmorphia. This thesis paper will explore the relationship between social media and these conditions, examining the potential negative effects that social media can have on individuals' perceptions of their bodies and their eating habits. Although Social media can be an interactive way to

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is when one sees flaws and imperfections in their body that others would see as minor or non-existent. Someone with Body dysmorphia will exacerbate those flaws and imperfections, making it hard to go about their day-to-day lives. (Mayo Clinic) An eating Disorder is a condition in which someone has tenacious eating behaviors that impact their health negatively. The most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa which is the fear of gaining weight (Usually are very underweight), Bulimia Nervosa, when one has a binge eating episode about once a week and commonly throws it up to not gain weight (These people are usually a little overweight) or at a healthy weight, and Binge-eating Disorder, when one over eats and binges food (these people are typically overweight or obese.) (Mayo

Social media like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter, apps which hundreds of thousands of people go on daily are no replacement for real-world connections. “It’s important to remember that social media can never be a replacement for real-world human connection. It requires in-person contact with others to trigger the hormones that alleviate stress and make you feel happier, healthier, and more positive” (Social Media and Mental Health). There is a significant connection between too much social media use and depression and anxiety, especially among teenagers and young adults. “The more you prioritize social media interaction over in-person relationships, the more you’re at risk for developing or exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression”.(Social Media and Mental Health)
Social media can cause you to feel worse about your own life/appearance due to the constant comparison of yourself to others, you may start to feel jealous or have harsh feelings towards yourself, which we will get into more in the further points. “Even if you know that images you’re viewing on social media are manipulated, they can still make you feel insecure about how you look or what’s going on in your own life. Similarly, we’re all aware that other people tend to share just the highlights of their lives,