Does Social Media Negatively Influence Teen's Body Image?

Does Social Media Negatively Influence Teen's Body Image?

By Brinley Toponce

            Does it ever feel like there is a new social media invented every day? Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, BeReal, and many other social media platforms are consuming everyone’s free time. The content on these social media platforms can be positive and negative, both filling the endless hours of scrolling that happens all around the world. Obviously, there are some people who can handle negativity better than others, but when it comes to teens on social media, how well do they take the negativity? Is Instagram and other social media helping or hurting these soon-to-be teenagers? Teens are heavily affected by social media, especially with the growth of the social media and influencer industry. One of the main impacts from social media that affects teens the most is body image and how they view themselves. Just like any other tool, social media can be used for good or for bad. Is this tool, social media, more of a good thing for teenagers or a bad thing?

Perspective #1: The Negative Impact of Social Media on Teens

            Social media introduces everyone – not just teens – to new subjects. This could be inappropriate pictures or language. It can also be unrealistic standards and goals that teens hold themselves to, not realizing that it is most likely impossible to achieve. On social media, there are filters that make regular people look like models, average weight girls look skinny waisted, and typical teens with acne look like clear-skinned beauties. In other words, social media is a lie.

When teens are exposed to these unrealistic expectations, some of them will do anything to meet the goal and fit the picture. This is where things can get dangerous, and sometimes even deadly. “Adolescents, especially females, have historically been subjected to pressures in favor of the thin body image ideal in traditional media outlets; this problem is suspected of growing more severe with the rise of social media” (Sagrera et al). Children and teens are often the victims of negative social media messages because they have not gone through puberty yet and their minds don’t quite know what is true and what is fake. Sagrera goes on to say that many of these social media posts with body images are made through AI or filtered and teenagers don’t realize this. Wanting to look like the made-up model on the screen, they often try to starve themselves. This is where eating disorders and mental illness is introduced, whether the young teen knows it or not. “Moreover, weight-related teasing was significantly associated with dissatisfaction, with nearly one-third of participants who experienced teasing reporting dissatisfaction across all countries” (Francisco de Souza). Not only does social media expose young girls to pictures of ideals, but it also exposes them to cruel words and harsh judgement. Social media makes it possible for people all around the world to connect and share. While this can be a good thing, it can also be harmful. This means that random people could be body shaming and cyberbullying someone that doesn’t even live in the same country as them. Francisco de Souza emphasizes that the last thing a person needs, especially when already facing body image issues, is weight-related or body-related teasing. Social media hugely and negatively affects teens’ body image for these reasons.

Perspective #2: The Positive Impact of Social Media on Teens

            Many people immediately think of the negatives when the two phrases “social media” and “body image” are said in the same sentence. However, there are many positives to social media when it comes to teens. “Although the body-positive movement predates social media, social media has definitely made the concept more accessible to more people.

A 2021 study examined the impact of body-positive social media on women’s body image. It found that viewing body-positive content improved body image” (Ferguson). One fact about social media is that once something is posted, it can be accessed by anyone and everyone. In some cases, an idea, thought or platform can go viral, and this can be a good thing. For example, a recent movement that has exploded on social media is the concept of body positivity and the “Strong not Skinny” movement. Both ideas are all over social media and focus on including and loving all body types. It speaks out against eating disorders and body shaming, while promoting loving the abilities of your body and its uniqueness.

            Ferguson mentions that social media can also lend a hand in finding support groups. She describes that social media can be a great way to find online support groups, get encouragement and advice, and find mental health resources and helplines. With a wide range of tools and resources at one’s fingers, it is up to each person individually to choose what they want to search for and look for. “Social media can be a great way to connect with others and seek support” (Ferguson). Online support groups can help create a person’s positive mentality about themselves, especially if they’ve seen or experienced body shaming.

Similarities and Differences

            There are several similarities and differences between these two mindsets and opinions. One of the biggest differences between these two opinions is the different personalities they belong to. If someone has similar thoughts as perspective one, they most likely have similar personalities to each other. Some of these personality traits might be protectiveness, being introverted, or having body image issues or having loved ones that body image issues. Some of the personality traits that could agree with perspective two are being extroverted, vulnerable, or supportive. “Body image is a term used to describe individuals' thoughts and feelings (perceptions) towards their own body, particularly their appearance. It is derived and molded by a complex amalgamation of biological, psychological, social, and cultural determinants” (Francisco de Souza). In this argument, Francisco de Souza mentions that body image is based on a variety of components, psychological determinants being one of them. This means that individual’s personalities affect how they view themselves, their body shape, and social media.

            One of the biggest similarities between these two perspectives is having the knowledge of social media. To decide whether social media is a negative or positive thing, a person needs to know what social media is and be familiar with how it works, what it shows, and familiar terms used when discussing it like what an “algorithm” is. “The research found that teenagers were likely to see content promoting eating disorders within 8 minutes of creating a new account” (Ferguson). Another reason why social media is largely affecting teenagers is because they are on social media much more than any other age group and they know their way around these platforms. This is an idea that Sagrera agrees with as well. “Of all media outlets, social media may represent the strongest driver of these beauty ideals. Social media platforms… are used ubiquitously among U.S. adolescents, with 96% using at least one social networking platform” (Sagrera). This is why the two perspectives are similar: they both agree that teens have the knowledge of how to work on social media platforms, so they will be affected by almost everything they are shown through social media.

Strengths and Weaknesses

            Both sides have strengths and weaknesses to their arguments. One of the greatest strengths of Francisco de Souza’s argument is the evidence and research behind his statistics and facts. In his argument, he has studies from different age groups, weight groups and even different countries. “Data parameters of interest included time spent online, the type of appearance-based platforms used, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, and family income” (Francisco de Souza). With all these categories, this helps the study and article be more reliable and accurate. Sagrera’s argument backs up Francisco de Souza’s very nicely, while focusing on one category mostly. The one category that Sagrera focuses on is teenagers who are female, which when focusing on one category, allows them to add more details and be more specific about their topic. “Screen time on SM has been linked to obesity, perpetuating the unrealistic nature of the beauty standards portrayed on platforms. Body dissatisfaction has been strongly linked to associated symptoms of anxiety and depression, with data showing females at an increased risk, perhaps due to increased use of highly visual SM as compared to males” (Sagrera et al). With these two very strong and detailed arguments helping each other, perspective number one looks strong. Ferguson’s argument, however, has a great strength. “At the same time, social media has some positive aspects — and it can, in some ways, positively influence your body image.” (Ferguson). While Ferguson’s argument is siding with social media being a positive influence on body image, the strength in her argument comes from the fact that she is not trying to be the only right opinion. She points out several times throughout the article that social media is not always positive and can be the opposite of what she’s trying to say. This shows that she acknowledges that she is not always right, which gives value to what she believes is not wrong.

            While both arguments have great strengths, both have weaknesses to be aware of. For Francisco de Souza’s, argument ended poorly and did not wrap up or rephrase anything he said earlier. “Weight-related teasing emerged as another critical factor contributing to dissatisfaction, emphasizing the need for anti-bullying programs and support systems” (Francisco de Souza). This is the last sentence of his article and makes it very hard for the reader to remember anything or make a decision on which perspective they like better with this being the last line. A weakness from Ferguson’s argument is that, while she discusses many topics and key parts of social media’s impact on body image, there is less explanation for each topic. Because there are so many, each section has less details than in other arguments. For example, in one of her sections, there are four paragraphs, three of which are only one sentence. There is little to no detail about her topics.

            Overall, Francisco de Souza’s article not only has more content, but it also has statistics from meaningful studies. His argument is more professional, has more sources, and cites many other studies from doctors and professionals all around the world. This is an argument that could sway any teen, social media lover or not, to put the screens down and cancel their Instagram account.

Compromise

            While both perspectives offer great insights and reasoning, both have their weaknesses and downfalls. Francisco de Souza’s argument focuses more on the negative and informational side of social media’s effect on body image, with Sagrera backing the argument up nicely, but from a more emotional angle. Ferguson’s argument acknowledges there is a negative side, but social media can also do so much good and can help someone be seen and feel supported in their body.

            As a teenager in this day and age, social media is everywhere I look. I personally have been negatively affected by what social media says is the “perfect body” and I used to struggle with body image. While I do agree that social media can also help those who have been hurt, especially concerning their body type, I think the negatives outweigh the positives, when it comes to teenagers with social media. Seeing both the good and the bad, and through much research, I think that one of the best choices to choose when forming an opinion on this topic is to meet in the middle. While this choice is not best suited for everyone, I think that social media is a great tool when the access is limited to an hour or two a day and not for teens. Along with limiting time on social media, it is also helpful to set content restrictions so things that will make someone feel less confident are blocked. This is my choice that I have chosen after much research, but everyone knows themselves and their children more, so this might be something that doesn’t work for everyone. At the end of the day, it’s up to family to decide what they want to be influenced by.

 

Works Cited

Ferguson, Sian. “Social Media and Body Image: Negative and Positive Effects.” Healthline,

            Healthline Media, 2 May 2024, www.healthline.com/health/social-media-and-body-

            image#positive-effects. 

Sagrera, Caroline E., et al. “Social Media Use and Body Image Issues among Adolescents in a

            Vulnerable Louisiana Community.” Frontiers, Frontiers, 12 Oct. 2025,

www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1001336/full.

Souza, Hugo Francisco de. “Teens Face Body Image Crisis as Social Media Fuels Dissatisfaction

            Globally.” News, 13 Jan. 2025, www.news-medical.net/news/20250112/Teens-face-body-

            image-crisis-as-social-media-fuels-dissatisfaction-globally.aspx.