Is Social Media Making You Hate Your Body?

"Scrolling through social media can often led to a barrage of "perfect" bodies, unattainable beauty standards, and ads for products you didn't ask for. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are designed to capture your attention, but sometimes at the expense of your self-image. While these platforms can foster creativity and connection, they are also linked to negative body image, eating disorders, and increased self-criticism. If you find yourself comparing your body to influencers or feeling pressured to conform to unrealistic ideals, you're not alone."

"The good news? You can take control of your social media experience and create a space that uplifts, rather than undermines, your confidence. Even more importantly, you can move beyond body-focused content altogether and use social media as a tool to explore your values, interests, and passions. Here's how. Audit Your Feed: Who Are You Following? Take an honest look at the accounts you follow."

"Influencers who promote dieting, weight loss, or body transformations as paths to happiness. Pages pushing restrictive or punishing "health" trends. Accounts that leave you feeling worse about yourself after you scroll. Replace these feeds with those of creators who: Celebrate body diversity and authenticity. Share unfiltered, realistic content. Challenge harmful beauty norms. Inspire personal growth beyond just physical appearance. By filling your feed with accounts that prioritize inclusivity and meaningful content, you can shift your focus"

Scrolling social media often exposes users to curated "perfect" bodies, unattainable beauty standards, and targeted ads that can harm self-image. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube can foster creativity and connection, but they are also linked to negative body image, eating disorders, and increased self-criticism. Users who compare themselves to influencers may feel pressured to conform to unrealistic ideals. Users can regain control by auditing their feeds, unfollowing or muting accounts that promote dieting, restrictive "health" trends, or that consistently induce shame. Replacing those accounts with creators who celebrate diversity, authenticity, and broader personal growth can shift focus toward values and confidence.

Read at Psychology Today