The Negative Influence Of Instagram & Body Image Distortion

Social media use is on the rise, which may have long-term effects on self-perception and the treatment or prevention of eating disorders. Eating disorders and dissatisfaction with one's appearance have both been linked to time spent in front of the television. Social media is influencing our perceptions of what makes someone attractive. Body image changes and how people see themselves in the mirror have been linked to online image consumption. The estimated 3.6 billion social media users worldwide must have consequences, both good and bad. An obsession with one's appearance, which in turn can lead to unhealthy eating habits and even eating disorders, can result from having a negative mental image of one's physical self.

According to research, spending time on social media platforms is linked to having a negative self-perception. A strong association was observed when individuals saw content related to their physical appearances, such as fitness instructors or model Instagram profiles. Most of the time, pictures of people trying to look their best are shared on social media. It has been demonstrated that Instagram has a particularly detrimental effect on young women and girls. Instagram was found to be the most harmful social media platform when it came to body image and mental health in a study conducted in the United Kingdom by the Royal Society for Public Health. Nearly a third of the 1,479 people surveyed had negative body image effects as a result of using Instagram, according to the study. Anxiety, depression, and insecurity were among the effects. Instagram was also linked, according to the study, to higher levels of self-criticism and comparing oneself to others.