Throughout Media Scholars, we've continually studied how consuming media impacts us in all areas of life. Whether debating if Google actually increases laziness, or how social media changes our friendships, our weekly seminars continually open my eyes to the numerous ways media affects our interactions with others and ourselves. A notable example of media's impact on us occurs through negatively impacting our body images. Before even beginning this research project, I already knew the emotional effects that consuming social media has on my body image. I've struggled with body dysmorphia and disordered eating since I was 12, only made worse through the pressures and comparisons of social media. Scrolling through Instagram or Tiktok can sometimes trigger my body dysmorphia, as I think faster than I scroll: I don't look like that in a bikini, I wish I looked like her, maybe I'll look like her if I.....etc. Sadly, this situation is nothing new. Many of my friends struggle with similar feelings towards their body, more so than ever in the last few years. This caused me to wonder: does consuming media actually lead to negative body image? I decided to do a little research and investigate the correlation between these two factors. While I believe that media can negatively impact the way we view our bodies, I wondered how strong the correlation was and/or if it affects one gender more than the other. Below, I included a picture that I ended up taking down from Instagram. While I look really happy in this picture, I was incredibly self conscious about how my body and face looked. I removed it from my social media feed to spare myself constant comparison and critiques about my body. It shouldn't have to be this way.
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