Social Media Effects On Body Image

How should the human body look? As years have gone by and cultures have expanded, the idea of a flawless body type has evolved alongside the evolution of cultures. In different parts of the world, the ideal body size and shape varies. There are many effects that the idea of perfect body shapes has on today’s society. More of the popular effects of body image issues includes unhealthy obsessions, bullying through social media, and the distinct ways the American culture thinks of ideal men and women.
The various cultures of the world each have different beliefs in what the body should look like. Many people blame the culture they live in for the obsession of body images. Arielle Cutler, a student of Hamilton University, once stated, “Pathologies
Media is used to spread news, share pictures, and communicate with friends, but sadly, the most common thing seen on social media is bullying. According to the British Dictionary, bullying is defined as a person who hurts, persecutes, or intimidates weaker people (British Dictionary). Bullying is found among all sources of social media. When someone sees something negative, it makes them think it’s true. Many believe that after time, one may forget something they have seen. Although many believe this theory, the human brain is less likely to forget something that relates to that person. Many will argue that one can ignore messages seen, but on a subconscious level, they will always remember
At the center of many advertisements, the ideal women’s body type is the same (Kilbourne). A small, curvy figure is considered an ideal in a woman, according to many advertisements. Take a look at the advertisements seen daily, magazines, celebrities, and even television shows provide the “standard” look. Arielle Cutler stated in her research that, “This ongoing concern is accepted as a completely normal and even inevitable part of being a modern girl” (Ossola). Also the drastic difference between what a male and female should look like has left a permanent mark on American culture. Many advertisements and people think that a male must be strong and muscular, while a female should be lean and not as strong (Morris). In the American society, to be skinny is seen as unwanted or not good enough, but to be overweight is wrong to. In the culture of today, there is no size that will be good enough.
Though in many cultures body types are not as important, the American society focuses on body image more than many other things. The effects of America’s obsession with body image include unhealthy obsessions, social media tearing people down, and the divide in ideal men and women. As a society, Americans need to band together in an effort to eliminate a singular body image idol, thereby, diminishing the effects as previously