Examining the Relationship Between Social Media and Body Image A Review of Literature.

Abstract

Recent developments in social media have prompted researchers to investigate the potential effects its use could have on body image. The study of body image in the media is not new, but with the rapid expansion of social media use, this issue has taken on increased importance, specifically because researchers have noted that social media is a central socializing agent for adolescents in sociocultural settings (Bell et al., 2021; Colak et al., 2023; Jarman et al., 2021; Mahon & Hevey, 2021). Along with this influence, social media is, for many adolescents, their source of news, opinion, and general information (Jarman et al., 2021, p. 2279). Various works have established both positive and negative relationships between social media use and body image, which indicates the growing need to pinpoint what aspects of social media serve as a significant factor for potentially negative relationships (Akerman & Borsa, 2021; Bell et al., 2021; Colak et al., 2023; Jarman et al., 2021; Mahon & Hevey, 2021). Without understanding what aspects of social media may cause adolescents to have negative body image, researchers cannot implement preventative tactics to try and limit adverse effects on adolescents’ psychological and physical well-being.