How Social Media Influences Body Image

The effects of social media use on mental health are an area of ongoing research and concern for clinicians and the public. The contribution of social media to body image issues and disordered eating is of particular concern for many people, including parents. We spoke with Dr. Shauna Frisbie, EdD, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH, LPC-S, CEDS-C, about this important topic. Dr. Frisbie is the author of A Therapist’s Guide to Treating Eating Disorders in a Social Media Age.

What impact can social media use have on a person’s body image?

Exposure to social media has been shown to negatively influence body image in numerous studies. To understand why this occurs, we can point to two simple facts: Humans are visual beings, and we use social comparisons to develop and shape our sense of who we are (identity).

Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook capitalize on our visual nature to draw us in. It is this visual element that makes social media both engaging and potentially dangerous. As humans, our emotions are more triggered by exposure to photos or videos than by text, yet we are not particularly skilled at determining the truth or reality of all this visual content. Filters and photo apps further distort our perception of what is real or accurate. The constant exposure to altered images creates unrealistic standards for physical appearance that cannot be attained in real life.

From the research on social media and body image, it seems that appearance comparisons on social media are more damaging to body image than in-person comparisons.

Social media plays a role in comparison when users share filtered and edited photos of their curated lives. When users compare their appearance to these curated posts, they may naturally feel that they are lacking or inferior. Likewise, social media tags like “fitspiration” and “thinspiration” are shared under the guise of positive health trends but instead have negative effects on body image. This makes sense if we consider how challenging it is to see these curated images and not make comparisons.

When individuals evaluate their own body in comparison to digitally enhanced portrayals of others, they are highly likely to experience negative feelings about their own body. The social comparisons lead to preoccupation with appearance and are associated with body dissatisfaction and overall anxiety about physical appearance.

Is social media and body image a concern for all users, or is it limited to certain ages, genders, or other populations? 

The potential negative effects of social media on body image are of concern for anyone who uses social media; however, certain groups are more vulnerable, including children, adolescents, and young adults who are at the stage where social connection and validation are extremely important. For a young person in the process of developing self-identity and body image, social media is now the social arena where they are making social comparisons.

It is no wonder that research has shown that over 75% of young females are dissatisfied with their bodies. Although males can feel pressure from idealized images on social media, females are more frequently targeted with images that promote the “thin ideal” model as the most acceptable female body. Higher value is placed on appearance for females, leading them to be more vulnerable to body image concerns.

Any individual who is already struggling with weight stigma or disordered eating is at higher risk as well. So, the risk is extremely high for someone who has been shamed or bullied for their weight or is already dieting. Social media is extremely challenging for these individuals because the algorithms that feed more content on topics that a user spends time on will target them with an onslaught of images and messages about monitoring, controlling, or managing weight. In my book I talk about how those with disordered eating and body image concerns spend more time viewing content related to eating, weight, and body image. These individuals also engage in more social comparison, which decreases body acceptance.

How can you identify whether social media use is a factor for a client with negative body image or related issues? 

The first step a counselor should take is to assess social media use patterns in terms of time spent, platforms used, activities, and types of content. Frequency and length of time spent on visual content platforms is shown to be the most detrimental. Counselors should ask questions about behaviors such as comparisons or engagement with “fit” or “thin” content. Basic questions such as “What do you most often do on social media?” or “Who do you follow on social media?” can provide information to assess excessive use and exposure to damaging images.

Follow up with conversations to assess feelings of appearance shame, comparison, and envy to learn how clients are being impacted by their social media use. Try to determine if the client is exposed to social media trends like “thinspiration” or pro–eating disorder content. As you learn more about a client’s body image, keep in mind their motivations for using social media. Those with a mindset of harsh criticism of their appearance are more likely to engage in seeking validation for their appearance on social media, and this tends to heighten the risk for body dysmorphia, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

What is your advice for working with a client whose body image has been harmed by social media? 

When working with a client whose body image has been harmed by social media, we need to initially determine existing social media literacy. This sounds very basic because most of us know that advertisers use manipulation tactics to increase our desire for products, yet we may forget that social media is all about selling products, and the product being sold on social media is the user. Influencers are rewarded financially based on engagement and numbers of followers. Helping clients to understand that online content is filtered, edited, and targeted to engage them can lead to questioning of the unrealistic standards that are the hallmark of social media. Challenging social media content that promotes curated appearance standards can help clients develop a self-identity that is broader than one simply based on appearance.

Body image concerns are often representative of greater concerns in other areas of a person’s life. It is only through exploring and voicing those concerns that resolution can occur. Helping clients process their reactions to visual content can enable them to develop media literacy and skills in emotional awareness. Strategies taken from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, and photo therapy can all be beneficial in this type of work and can help the client move from awareness of emotions around their body and food to implementing strategies for a healthier relationship with their body.

Encouraging clients to maintain a balanced and healthy use of social media is important as well. For example, taking breaks or digital detoxes and having an active social life in real life can lessen the impact of social media. When using social media, clients can be encouraged to engage with more authentic and diverse representations of people and broader aspects beyond appearance. There is a whole wealth of information on social media on a wide variety of topics that can promote a positive, well-rounded sense of self if clients will engage in topics other than those related to appearance. Activities that provide a sense of achievement and satisfaction outside of appearance aid clients in developing a robust self-identity. 

What can an individual user (or their parent or guardian) do to reduce or counter negative effects of social media? 

A young person who spends more than 2 hours a day on social media is more likely to have body image issues, so limiting time on social media can have a large impact. Adults should model limited social media use and prioritize real life relationships and interactions, so their children and adolescents learn to develop a life outside of social media. Social media literacy strategies apply to all age groups—adults should have conversations with their children about unrealistic standards and being selective about who you follow based on the content that is posted.

If adults note negative body image, concerning food attitudes or behaviors, and/or self-hatred in their children, they may consider reaching out for professional help from a counselor who specializes in treating body image concerns and understands how to address social media use as well.

Your book A Therapist’s Guide to Treating Eating Disorders in a Social Media Age was published in 2020. Have you seen any notable changes in social media use or its effects in the years since? 

Since 2020, there have been considerable growth and changes in social media. The percentage of the global population using social media continues to expand along with concerns that social media contributes to body image disturbance and even eating disorders. The rise of short-form, video-based platforms like TikTok and YouTube, which now dominate the adolescent market, has led to bite-sized content to quickly engage the user. Despite the popularity of short videos, we still saw total video consumption time increasing during the pandemic, and these levels have become the norm.

Increasingly sophisticated algorithms populate feeds with more and more related content the longer someone is engaging with a platform, increasing the likelihood that content damaging to body image will impact the user. If a user watches a video related to body image or even weight loss, they will immediately be inundated with similar content in their feed.

Another trend is the growth of influencer marketing. As influencer status continues to expand, there is greater potential for a person to be misled by false claims and altered images. Finally, social media is now a news source for many, further blurring the line between reality and content created to sell a product.

Social media shows no signs of truly focusing on the health and well-being of users. It is a business with the primary purpose of making money. One trend that we are seeing is that advertisers are seeking to increase meaningful engagement with their audience on social media. While this shift is an indicator of brand loyalty and audience interest to the advertiser, there is some research showing active engagement with social media to be less damaging than passive use, such as simply scrolling. I have no idea if this shift will negate the negative effects of social media use in a significant way—what is clearer is the need for ongoing monitoring of how we interact with a technology that continues to dominate our lives.

Further Reading and Research

For those who may be interested in a more detailed explanation of how visual content influences a person’s sense of appearance and identity, I wrote in more depth about  these processes and how to work to address body image issues in my book A Therapist’s Guide to Treating Eating Disorders in a Social Media Age. There is a growing body of research on the impact of social media on body image. Some of the studies that I originally utilized in my book are still relevant, but I’ll also include some more recent studies. Two recent reviews may be particularly helpful to provide an overview of the topic.

Dane, A., & Bhatia, K. (2023). The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people. PLOS Global Public Health,3(3), e0001091. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001091

Merino, M., Tornero-Aguilera, J. F., Rubio-Zarapuz, A., Villanueva-Tobaldo, C. V., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Clemente-Suárez, V. J. (2024). Body perceptions and psychological well-being: A review of the impact of social media and physical measurements on self-esteem and mental health with a focus on body image satisfaction and its relationship with cultural and gender factors. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 12(14), 1396. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12141396 

Shauna Frisbie is a licensed professional counselor and an approved supervisor for licensed professional counselors in Texas. She is a National Certified Counselor, a certified eating disorder specialist, and an approved consultant for eating disorders. She earned a doctorate in counselor education from Texas Tech University and is currently a professor in the clinical mental health counseling program at Colorado Christian University. Her research interests span a variety of topics including identity development, social media, phototherapy, trauma-informed counselor education, and trauma responses/treatment.

**Opinions and thoughts expressed in NBCC Visions Newsletter articles belong to the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or practices of NBCC and Affiliates.