Mass media significantly influences adolescents. With the rise of social media, young minds are constantly being exposed to idealized images of beauty and unrealistic body images which are at unattainable standards. The glorification of these unrealistic bodies in the media can lead to major body dissatisfaction in adolescents developing brain. It is a major risk factor for eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Naomi Wolf argues that our culture disempowers women by holding them prisoner to an unattainable beauty ideal (Wolf, 1990).
George Gerber’s Cultivation Theory explains this phenomenon by stating that long-term exposure to media content shapes individuals’ perceptions of reality. For adolescents, this frequent exposure to images of these thin, digitally altered models can create a distorted view of societal beauty norms. This would lead to feelings of unworthiness and low self-esteem when their bodies do not conform to these media’s standards.
The consequences of this mindset can be very severe, resulting in extreme dieting, excessive exercising, and even more extreme measures like purging or using laxatives. When adolescents use these extreme measures to achieve this ideal body image, it can be detrimental to their developing bodies and mental health. These dieting practices can also perpetuate feelings of failure and inadequacy which would lead to a deeper spiral into eating disorders.
The effects of media’s glorified body images can also lead to lead to other issues beyond one’s perception of their own body. It can also lead to increased bullying, social isolation, and mental health issues among adolescents. If someone doesn’t match this ideal body, they may be bullied by others or self-isolate, which can be detrimental to their mental health. It may also cause them to go through extreme measures to fit the societal standards, which can easily lead to an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.
Addressing the impact of mass media on eating disorders is essential to begin mitigating these problems. By prioritizing education and inclusivity, we can help adolescents develop a more positive self-image and mitigate the harmful effects mass media can have on their body image. Promoting diverse representations of body types on the media can help challenge these harmful narratives. Also, educating adolescents to recognize unrealistic portrayals of beauty can help them understand they do not need to look a certain way and that they can be comfortable with themselves.
Spettigue, W. and Henderson, K.A. (2004) Eating disorders and the role of the Media, The Canadian child and adolescent psychiatry review,13(1):16–19
Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (Eds.). (2016). Applied social psychology : Understanding and addressing social and practical problems. SAGE Publications, Incorporated