The introduction of social media has helped our world to attain a connectedness that once would have been inconceivable. Each day, social media allows millions of people from around the world to stay updated with family and friends’ lives and share experiences of his or her own. This new level of connectivity has, for the most part, positively impacted society and its ability to stay informed and aware. But, social media still carries some negative consequences. One of the most pervasive and alarming side effects of social media resides in the impact it can have on one’s self confidence and body image. One may lose his or her confidence because of the images and ideas presented on social media sites that stress a single, exclusionary depiction of physical attractiveness. Because social media is a relatively new occurrence, the conversation concerning whether or not the negative effects may be heightened based on an individual’s gender as well as possible solutions to these issues has essentially just begun. Although some may claim that these negative effects are equal despite an individual’s gender, most sources agree that women are more vulnerable than men. For example, this could result from the modeling and fashion industry which place an unrealistic standard that the average woman can not meet. This image of physical attractiveness requires a woman to be unhealthily thin, while maintaining disproportionate curves and flawless skin. As technology and social media continue to grow, the issue of social media driving unrealistic and unattainable expectations of beauty will only progress if not properly addressed. 

Before one is properly able to assess social media and its effects, he or she must possess the proper knowledge regarding the science in which males and females are compared. The comparison between males and females has been a subject of interest for psychologists since the 1970s. Psychologists disagree on whether or not the differences between the sexes are substantial and consistent. Studies conducted by psychologists Eleanor Maccoby and Carol Jacklin found differences between the sexes regarding verbal, quantitative, and spatial abilities but no other contrast was found in other classes of behavior (Eagly 145). A more recent analysis of gender differences and body image conducted by Alan Feingold and Ronald Mazzella found a significant increase in the number of females who are unsatisfied with their body (Feingold & Mazzella 190). This study found that males tend to be more satisfied with their body image than their female counterparts. Because of the research’s results, which found that on average women’s physical attractiveness rating is higher than men’s, this discrepancy is not based upon differences in actual physical attractiveness (Feingold & Mazzella 192). Throughout the years in which the study was conducted, there has been a constant increase in positive body image for males but a decrease for females (Feingold & Mazzella 193). This fact is alarming and may prompt one to question why maintaining a positive body image in today’s society can be so difficult. Feingold and Mazzella’s discovered that this issue, for both genders, can be attributed to “competition for socially valued and socially determined goals” (Feingold & Mazzella 193). But, this fact holds especially true for women, as the study shows they are more prone to the social conditioning which stresses the importance of physical attractiveness (Feingold & Mazzella 193). These studies assist in displaying how the science behind comparing the genders has changed as social media has entered into society and grown more popular. This fact explains why Maccoby and Jacklin found minuscule differences between the genders when conducting their research and why Feingold and Mazzella then found significant differences during their analysis. 

As previously identified, women are much more susceptible to the negative effects of social media. In fact, a survey from CBS News reported that 97 percent of women have at least one negative thought about their body each day and that on average a woman will think thirteen negative thoughts per day (“Survey: 97 Percent of Women…”). This constant stream of negative thinking actually rewires an individual’s brain to regularly think in a pessimistic way. Most females acquire these detrimental patterns of thinking from an early age. In a society that functions on comparisons, women retrain their brains as young children to think in a competitive manner.  Girls are taught to self invalidate themselves through this comparison. To combat these effects, females of all ages can work to recognize these external images and messages that force a singular idea of what is considered physically attractive. It is also recommended that one looks within and is mindful of any deeper issues that may be causing these negative thoughts, such as an unhappy relationship or job. Other causes may include a general loneliness and unhappiness. To help eliminate any of these larger issues, experts suggest that women recognize and build on their particular strengths. This requires a woman to realize her unique talents and focus on strengthening these aspects instead of worrying about what she feels she may lack. This simple strategy can be implemented in one’s daily life and will help to strengthen one’s confidence, in turn resulting in a more positive body image (“Survey: 97 Percent of Women…”).   

Another important topic of this conversation resides in the definition of the term well-being. Scholars have worked for centuries to define this word, but the constant advancement of technology results in an ever changing definition. Social media is the latest technological advancement and its introduction and growth in popularity has resulted in a constant connectedness of society. This fact has led to a debate regarding whether or not this connectedness is “revolutionary” or “personally and societally destructive” (Beasley 1). Social media’s most important characteristic is its intimate publicness, as it works as a “porous, affective scene of identification among strangers” yet also “provides a complex consolation, confirmation, discipline and discussion about how to live” (Beasley 2). When one encounters social media, he or she experiences connectedness while remaining isolated. Because social media allows such an unparalleled method of connection, it has developed into a platform that is more than just sharing thoughts and images with family and friends. Social media sites have transformed into place of “affective investment and emotional identification” (Beasley 2). Because of the emotional connection social media provides, its importance in one’s life and his or her well-being is extremely crucial. 

The modeling industry and the ideas it depicts have a substantial influence on one’s body image. In Ashley Mears’s Pricing Beauty: The Making of a Fashion Model, one is given an inside look into the fashion industry. This includes Mears’s experiences attending castings and posing for distinguished photographers. Mears also walked the runway of five Fashion Weeks during her time working as a model. All of the success she experienced within the fashion industry led her to explore the logic of beauty. More specifically, it prompted Mears to consider the fashion industry’s considerable influence on beauty. Although one may believe that reaching success in the modeling industry is based solely on physical appearances, Mears argues that having the proper relationships and connections remains a major component (Talley 1853). She promotes the notion that the modeling industry is not all negative, as most tend to believe it to be. Mears expresses her belief that “aesthetic labor can be empowering for workers, as models creatively innovate strategies for crafting aesthetic selves” (Talley 1854). By stating this, Mears hopes to raise awareness to a positive effect that modeling produces, an increased sense of creativity within an individual. Mears then mentions the modeling industry’s considerably worst trait, the naturalization of a “racist and misogynist aesthetic” that “produces images that reinforce social inequalities” (Talley 1854). The fashion industry majorly lacks diversity, and this absence of various body sizes and ethnicities may negatively affect one’s own self-image. Mears explains how the most popular look portrayed in the modeling industry is white and slender. This limited depiction of beauty may result in negative consequences for one’s body image and self esteem if an individual does not meet this appearance and feels like he or she must to obtain validation from others. 

 A recent law passed in Israel provides an example for how government can work to regulate the modeling industry and its negative effects. The Law for Restricting Weight in the Modeling Industry, also known as 5772-2012, sets limits on a company’s ability to employ models that are unhealthily thin and overuse Photoshop in its advertisements (Hildesheimer & Gur-Arie 103). The introduction of such a law leads to questions regarding how realistic it may be to regulate eating disorders and whether or not legal restrictions being placed on the modeling industry will help to combat the growing presence of eating disorders in today’s society. Because eating disorders recently have become a more prevalent issue, a discussion concerning their causes has been introduced. The modeling industry commonly uses models who are unhealthily thin, which reinforces in the consumer’s mind the notion that they must somehow work to achieve this unattainable standard of beauty. Women resort to extreme measures in hopes of reaching this impossible perfection. By Israel placing the Law for Restricting Weight in the Modeling Industry into effect, it has become the first legal system to regulate the modeling industry and its effect on the presence of eating disorders (Hildesheimer & Gur-Arie 104). 

Although this law is working to ignite positive change, there are some issues surrounding the law’s effectiveness. A main concern regarding this law is its “myopic view of what causes eating disorders” and its focus is somewhat “arbitrary in light of the much more complex and compound social context in which eating disorders and other beauty related health detriments emerge” (Hildesheimer & Gur-Arie 113-114). Stating that the cause of eating disorders is solely because of the modeling industry leads to a wrongful simplification of the issue, which is actually much more intricate. Eating disorders have multiple stages, which require different actions to be taken depending on which stage the individual is in at a given time (Hildesheimer & Gur-Arie 114). Although the Modeling Act is simply a first step to solving the issue of eating disorders, it serves as an important example of a measure that can be taken to raise awareness to the issue and introduce positive change in society. This example could pose as inspiration for the United States’ government, which could benefit from implementing a similar law to Israel’s Modeling Act. 

One particular social media platform that has caused multiple debates because of its many adverse side effects is Instagram. Instagram functions as a place where an individual can share and document photos of particular experiences with friends and family. Over 60 million images are uploaded to Instagram each day. A fashion magazine conducted a study which found that 64 percent of women report that viewing pictures on Instagram makes them feel negatively about their body (“Social Media Effects on…”). Dove published a study that found 54 percent of women view themselves as their own worst beauty critic. This statistic means that 672 million women across the globe believe they judge themselves harder than anyone else. In hopes of obtaining validation from others, some women turn to Instagram and posting photos that will receive positive feedback in the form of others liking and commenting on the image (Fleming, para. 4). The University of Buffalo conducted a study which found that women who place their self confidence in receiving positive feedback on posted photos will post more pictures of themselves online. This constant posting of photos results in an individual having a higher follower count. Because this individual has so many people following their posts, it then becomes extremely important for them to make sure every photo is exactly how he or she wants and accurately represents his or her desired brand and image. This requires overwhelming amounts of stress and effort, as the individual makes sure to have the perfect angle, outfit, and lighting. It can also cause tremendous stress to an individual when a friend posts a photo, and the individual is unable to control his or her appearance in the image (Fleming, para. 5). 

Fielding Graduate University’s director of the Media Psychology Research Center, Dr. Pamela B. Rutledge, found the reason behind this stress. She explains that it arises from one’s tendency to focus too closely on the smaller, less important aspects of our appearance rather than the overall, larger picture (Fleming, para. 6). Dr. Rutledge states that, “others take in an image holistically, noticing expressions of emotion and mood such as a smile” while we “[scrutinize] the minor details” (Fleming, para. 6). Associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University, David G. Schlundt, explains that others usually view what we would consider flaws as simply interesting or unique features. Another negative consequence of social media is the effect it can have on a student’s grades. The New York Times recently reported that the more time teenagers spent on social media sites, the worse they performed in school (McNamara, para. 1). The negative effects social media has on one’s body image and even grades is alarming and should prompt one to question how social media can be utilized properly to instead provide a positive experience for the user and generate valuable opportunities. 

One may ask, “Why is having a strong social media presence so important anyway?”. Social media has become more than a place where an individual shares photos and experiences. It has transformed into a space that “[measures] monetary value” and is even a “career determiner” (Fleming, para. 13). In today’s society, many companies will look at a potential employee’s social media account to help them gauge how valuable he or she would be as part of the company. A report from Time stated that employers find it suspicious when reviewing a possible employee and he or she does not have a Facebook account (Fleming, para. 13). To remain competitive in the hiring process today, one must have not only a compelling real life version of themselves, but also maintain a strong online presence. This is especially true for those who may wish to pursue a career in modeling. If an individual hopes to attain fame in the modeling industry, their social media sites are required to be kept more professional. This means that he or she must scale back on the posts that include family and friends and focus more on themselves and the brand they hope to convey. Another important aspect involves having a substantial amount of followers, which can help convey value and motivate employers (Fleming, para. 14). Social media helps an individual cultivate a brand which he or she then displays for anyone to see. The process is similar to how a company establishes itself and portrays a certain image to customers. Social media has become much more than a place where one simply shares his or her own pictures or thoughts. It has truly evolved into a place where one can culture a specific brand, which can lead to many opportunities that might otherwise be unattainable. 

Social media has proven to be an invaluable advancement made within society. The connectedness that social media provides allows for a fast and effective means of communication which would have been unimaginable many years ago. But just as social media can hold extreme power, so can the images and ideas portrayed on it. This can provide for negative consequences to appear, as the meaning of what is physically attractive can be distorted and forced upon influenceable users. Most of the time, women tend to be more susceptible to these inaccurate, exclusionary images of beauty and physical attractiveness. The fashion and modeling industry has a severe effect, as these industries supply the majority of these images online. Although steps can be taken to regulate their actions, not much has been done to work towards lessening their negative effects. As technology and social media continues to advance, it is important that these issues of body image and self confidence are attacked from each source to help provide a more beneficial and healthy online experience for all. 
