Body image in danger: Social media influences our self-esteem!

Body image in danger: Social media influences our self-esteem!

More and more people are sharing their life moments, especially pictures of themselves, on social media. This development has brought body image research into focus, particularly on platforms like Instagram. Psychologist Kristine Schönhals emphasizes the importance of posting your own pictures, as opposed to passively consuming content. This dynamic is the focus of the “Like my Life” research project, which examines the effects of one's own posts on body image and mood in everyday life.

The project is led by Prof. Dr. Silja Vocks from the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the University of Osnabrück. Participation in this study involves several steps that enable comprehensive data collection. This includes a basic online questionnaire and a training appointment that can take place both online and in person. Participants have to answer questions about their everyday life using a smartphone over the course of four weeks.

Valuable incentive for participants

To encourage participation in the study, participants will receive a voucher worth up to 30 euros. Those interested can contact Kristine Schönhals or the study team by email or take part in the study directly using a link provided. Social media engagement not only brings with it an opportunity for self-expression, but also has deeper psychological implications that the study aims to further explore.

An expert document from the Leibniz Institute for Media Research/Hans Bredow Institute in Hamburg highlights further adjustments in this area. The study, which was carried out on behalf of the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM), shows that labeling edited photos on social networks leads to significant dissatisfaction with one's own body. This dissatisfaction is increased by the more intensive viewing of such edited content.

Influence of algorithms on body image

The algorithms on social media play an essential role in this topic. They influence the body image of young people in particular by reinforcing similar and often unrealistic ideals of beauty. The KJM suggests adapting these algorithms to promote more realistic body representations. This proposal could be implemented either on a voluntary basis or under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

The balance between youth media protection and the right to freedom of information is of central importance. The KJM plans to present the results of its study to both legislators and platform operators to encourage necessary changes. Finally, the DSA requires social networks to take measures to protect against illegal content and to create transparency.

The connection between social media and body image is complex and urgently requires further investigation. While projects like “Like my Life” provide important insights, research continues to highlight the challenges that users face in the digital space.

For more information on this topic, you can view the full studies and reports on the respective websites: University of Osnabrück reports that..., Time reports that... and ULB Tirol reports that....