Originally appeared on HealthDay.com May 2018
Too Much Social Media May Harm a Woman’s Body Image and WebMD at: Social Media May Harm a Woman’s Body Image
WHY ARE THE EFFECTS OF MEDIA ON WOMEN’S SELF-IMAGE AND HEALTH SO DAMAGING?
Award-winning author, Dr. Nancy Mramor Kajuth
I was not surprised to learn, as a media expert, that a study at the University of South Wales showed that over an hour a day on social media can lead to increased body image issues for women, as health and media are so closely related. Why is this and what can you do about it?
First, there is a big picture here, and you will need to step back so that you can see it. Let me say that the effects of media on female body image go far beyond social media. For as long as media has existed, there have been movies, TV show, commercials, magazines, billboards and air-brushed photographs of perfect women by whom women and girls have set their standards. Eating disorders and body dysmorphia have been the result, as women have judged their worth by their weight. In my book Get Reel: Produce Your Own Life, I share how media has us in a trance and we are convinced by it. We believe and adopt the values that media share about appearance as real, when they are manufactured, over exaggerated and impossible to match. Thus, the problem with body image in women. I have often said that if women could redirect all the energy that they have spent on their weight, they could change the world. But false presentations have been turned to beliefs, that in the minds of women, are real. And so there is very little questioning about the projected images. The false truth is that they must look the way that media images do, in order to be OK with themselves. This belief becomes a dogmatic position that is hard to shake.
ENTER SOCIAL MEDIA
We love our chances to connect with others, see photos we would never otherwise see, and make new friends, And when social media accomplishes these goals, it is at it’s best.
On the other hand, social media has become a way to put these false images right in your field of vision whether you opt for them or not. You can turn off a movie, close a magazine or consciously step back from a billboard, but not so with social media. If young women want to know what someone is doing today, or stay connected to their friends, they have to turn it on. The majority of Facebook profiles are enhanced and so what you see is rarely accurate, but the speed of movement of posts, pictures and comments can enter the conscious mind before you know it. Which is the chicken and which is the egg? Do insecure women seek validation through social media or does social media make them more insecure? Insecure women and girls may use social media to try to feel better about themselves yet using it may make them feel worse. In addition, because women have been taught that their worth is in their weight, they may decide that social media exclusion is a result of being less than perfect. Cyberbullying comes in many forms, and being left off of outings that are posted by those who have been included can be a deliberate act of social isolation. These acts are designed to be hurtful and to chip away at self-worth.
I am not saying that overcoming the effects of media is an easy road, but you start by being conscious:
- Learning to view all media consciously, by stepping back and noticing what the image is trying to tell you and deciding whether or not it is true for you. It is the first and the main way out of social media influence. It takes a minute but it is worth every second of consideration.
- Decide before going in, that the images and information you see are not reality. If they are real, for example, if someone posts pictures of an expensive vacation that you could not afford, remember that posts are often exaggerated. Many people post pictures of trips, romantic anniversary parties and days at the beach that were not really as exciting as they appear.
- Know when something is affecting you and stop. Whether it is a chain of conversation, photos, videos or another form of social media, when you don’t feel good about it, stop. Notice how you feel, and whether you are having physical symptoms, such as a less than comfortable feeling in your stomach. Disengage with it and redirect yourself to something more positive. Turn off your devices and choose something in real life that validates your worth, whether it is family, physical activity, academia, real life relationships, work or something else. Staying in real time is always a way to stay connected to your real self.
- Take social media vacations. Take hours or days away from social media contact. The power it had over you will start to fade and you will find out that you are just fine without so much of a good thing.