Social Media Revolution: Negative Impact of Social Media on Female Self-Esteem
Social Media Revolution: Negative Impact of Social Media on Female Self-Esteem
Issue Date
2018-10-09
Authors
Sandhu, Tejinder
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Abstract
In today's world, the use of social media has become a necessary daily activity. Social media is typically used for social interaction and a way to connect with one another. Social media in high doses does not do any good for one's mental health and it seems to have a particularly strong effect on women. Women try to lose weight to seek the acceptance of their appearance from others, which is never a successful approach on weight loss and pursuing a thin-ideal. Hence, this sends women further down the spiral of a negative outlook towards their physical appearance and this has become out of control due to technology. This manuscript-style thesis, grounded in a self-objectification theoretical framework, argues that social media has a negative impact on a woman's self-esteem and body image. First, it presents an overview of the definitions of all the important concepts being discussed. It further dives into the harsh realities of being a woman on social media and the feminine beauty ideals which are presented in the media and how these force woman to compare themselves to others whom they consider beautiful. Eating disorders and mental health issues arise from the thin-ideal internalization. This thesis encourages the ability to be kind to oneself and engage in mindful social networking. Clinical recommendations for other sources of theoretical modules, limitations to the thesis, and personal reflections will be discussed as well.
Description
Keywords
social media , self-objectification , body image concerns , self-compassion and mindfulness , beauty ideals , upward social comparison , low self-esteem , thin-ideal internalization
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States , openAccess