McKenzie Holt

IM260
October 20, 2016
Finding Your Self-Image in Digital Media

Over the time in which technology has become more prevalent, digital media has become
a huge part of peoples daily lives. It is almost unavoidable. The media can be used for good, but
it has also brought about many harmful thoughts to individuals about their self-worth. In the past
ten years, media such as: television, newspapers, magazines, music, internet, phones, and social
media sites are affecting the self-image of different cultures, women, young women, and even
young men.

Digital media can cause thoughts in childrens minds that they originally wouldnt have
thought up on their own. Digital media has been linked to setting cultural norms and providing
beauty ideas in the mass media which provides children with ideas about attractiveness. Because
of this, children might feel that they are unable to live up to the beauty standards. As a
consequence, they may feel dissatisfied with their own bodies or even try to change their bodies
to fit these standards, often with unhealthy changes in diet (Watching your weight? Psychology
& Health, 24(9), 1035-1050). The pictures seen (often photo shopped or edited) can be
unrealistic and unattainable for some individuals. Trying to live up to this standard is very
unhealthy in some circumstances, emotionally, and physically.

Some of these younger girls grow up to be young women who place their identity and
self-worth in their body image. There is a difference in being aware of the cultures expectations
to be thin, and actively seeking it. Eleni-Mariana Ashikali and Helga Ditmarr say in their article
Body Image and Restrained Eating in Blind and Sighted Women, that The degree to which
appearance is central to women's self-concept influences the extent to which they are dissatisfied
with their body. Therefore, women whose appearance is important to their self-worth may be
more prone to negative body image. Awareness and internalization of the thin ideal are two
further risk factors of interest. A distinction must be made between simply being aware of the
sociocultural thin ideal, and actively endorsing it as a personal goal (Body image and restrained
eating in blind and sighted women 172-175). First you become aware of it, then you make it your
goal and furthermore it can become your lifestyle and identity. You eventually begin to live for
something that is really taking life away.

Over the years, photo alteration and retouching have become more and more
technologically advanced. Many children growing up using digital media for more than 3 hours a
day have a hard time distinguishing between what is real and what has been tampered with. Even
more concerning, now that the altering has become more advanced, even adults are having a hard
time distinguishing (Virtually perfect: Image retouching and adolescent body image 17(2), 134153). Many magazines, websites, and ads put up disclaimer labels stating that images have been
tampered with. The ads may have some photo shopping and editing but to make up for it they
place a disclaimer stating that these things have taken place. The question is, do the disclaimer
labels really take away from the negative effect the ads can give off? The authors of The effect
of digital alteration disclaimer labels on social comparison and body image: Instructions and

individual differences say no, it is actually quite the opposite. They say In particular, for
women high on trait appearance comparison, disclaimer labels which specified the body areas
that had been digitally altered led to increased body dissatisfaction. So in some cases the
disclaimers just draw extra attention to particular body areas causing women to focus in even
more on that aspect of the ad comparing the images to their own bodies (The effect of digital
alteration disclaimer labels on social comparison and body image 17, 136-142).

Even though a popular assumption is that all social media influences women and young
girls to be thin, that is not always the case. It varies among cultures. While Caucasian women are
being influenced to be rail thin, research has shown that African American women are expected
to be more curvaceous. Researches viewed model of the week magazines with African American
models and there showed to be a steady increase in hip-to-waist ratios over several years (Body
shape and size depictions of African American women in JET magazine, 19532006. Body
Image 86-89). Women of unalike cultures face different pressures through digital media.

Perhaps the most widely known social media site used by many cultures is Facebook.
Facebook can be a really positive social media sight, allowing you to keep in touch with family
and friends. However, young women have reported spending on average up to two hours per day
browsing their Facebook. Users create their own profile and build a visually appealing page,
often with their own enhanced photos. Evaluations of other peoples pages might not always be
in line with their own reality. Many times people find themselves comparing their actual day to
day lives with others idealized Facebook page. This can cause insecurities and can lead one to

believe others are happier and experiencing better lives than themselves (The impact of
Facebook on young women's body image concerns and mood Body Image, 13, 38-45).
Users need to keep in mind that others posts are the highlights of their lives, not their average
day to day lives. Users tend to only post the good in life and not the bad. Richard M. Perloff
states in his article, Extending Theory on Social Media and Body Image Concerns that women
who possess dispositional vulnerabilities (e.g., depression, appearance-based self-concept)
should be particularly likely to seek validation through status updates, putting them at risk for
disappointment and the vicious cycle of social media effects (Act 2: Extending theory on social
media and body image concerns. Sex Roles, 71(11-12), 414-418). Comparing oneself negatively
with others on media sites such as Facebook can be especially destructive for those with
preexisting depression.

Social media does not only pressure women to be thin, but also puts major pressure on
one to be sexually perfect. Studies show that women with higher self-esteem tend to avoid
sexually objectifying materials. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing
programs that increase women's self-esteem to protect young women against the negative effects
of sexually objectifying media (The effect of sexually objectifying music videos on bodily selfperception in young women. Body Image, 10(1), 26-34). Also these sexually objectifying medias,
such as certain music videos can give young men a false impression and they can begin to expect
that a women should be sexually perfect, this in turn can cause more anxiety in women.

Similarly, the media has affected boys in more ways. Often times boys desire a more
muscular body rather than a thin body like most girls. However, this is not always the case, many
boys desire a thin body as well (Media matters for boys too! 15(4), 679-682).

In conclusion, the media can cause a skewed view on body image and what is real or
fake. Because of this, many cultures, women, adolescent boys and girls are being affected by
magazines, Facebook, music videos, disclaimer labels, and unrealistic sexual standards. Building
good self-image at a young age can protect and prepare young children for future digital media
use.
References
Anschutz, D., Engels, R., Van Leeuwe, J., & van Strien, T. (2009). Watching your weight? the
relations between watching soaps and music television and body dissatisfaction and
restrained eating in young girls.Psychology & Health, 24(9), 1035-1050.
Ashikali, E., & Dittmar, H. (2010). Body image and restrained eating in blind and sighted
women: A preliminary study. Body Image, 7(2), 172-175.
Bury, B., Tiggemann, M., & Slater, A. (2016). The effect of digital alteration disclaimer labels on
social comparison and body image: Instructions and individual differences. Body Image, 17,
136-142.
Dawson-Andoh, N., Gray, J. J., Soto, J. A., & Parker, S. (2011). Body shape and size depictions
of african american women in JET magazine, 19532006. Body Image, 8(1), 86-89.

Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on
social media: The impact of facebook on young women's body image concerns and
mood. Body Image, 13, 38-45.
Ferreday, D. (2011). Haunted bodies: Visual cultures of anorexia and size zero. Borderlands, (2)
Harrison, K., & Hefner, V. (2014). Virtually perfect: Image retouching and adolescent body
image. Media Psychology, 17(2), 134-153.
Mischner, I. H. S., van Schie, H. T., Wigboldus, D. H. J., van Baaren, R. B., & Engels, R. C. M.
E. (2013). Thinking big: The effect of sexually objectifying music videos on bodily selfperception in young women. Body Image, 10(1), 26-34.
Perloff, R. M. (2014). Act 2: Extending theory on social media and body image concerns. Sex
Roles, 71(11-12), 414-418.
Slater, A., & Tiggemann, M. (2014). Media matters for boys too! the role of specific magazine
types and television programs in the drive for thinness and muscularity in adolescent
boys. Eating Behaviors,15(4), 679-682.