Influence of Social Media on Eating Disorders and Body Image

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Page: 486-489

Hemant Kumar, Amit, and Vijeta Singh (Department of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, Haryana)

The present generation is growing in a world flooded with mass media. The standards of beauty and perfection are set by the media. This influences the perceptions and body image of people. The ideal body portrayed in the media has resulted in a range of psychological symptomatology, including body objectification, body dissatisfaction, and eating disorders. However, the media cannot be accused of being the leading cause of disturbing the life of people. But it has a significant contribution to making people think about what to eat, how to eat when to eat, and why to eat. The eating habits of adolescents and youth have become unpredictable and inconsistent leading to disturbed lifestyles resulting in various physical and mental health issues. Non-specific eating disorders have become common during childhood and adolescence. Eating disorders are associated with nutritional problems and social prejudice. This paper presents evidence regarding the influence of social media on the development of an adolescent’s self-perception, body image, and weight concerns. We have found women to be more prone to body dissatisfaction, negative body image, and weight concerns.