This section will smoothly introduce the research behind this topic, including but not limited to background information, current evidence with sources, and implications these have on today's world.
In my research, I first looked at a study from Turkey that explored how social media addiction, body image, and self-esteem are connected in high school students ages 14–18 (Colak et al., 2023). The researchers used standardized scales to measure social media addiction, self-esteem, and body image, and found that teens who scored higher on social media addiction tended to have lower self-esteem and a more negative view of their bodies. They also found that body image acts as a bridge between social media use and self-esteem, meaning that heavy social media use can hurt self-esteem partly because it makes teens feel worse about how they look (Colak et al., 2023). This study helped me understand that social media doesn’t just affect mood in the moment; it can shape how young people see themselves on a deeper level.
Next, I examined a blog-style article from Florida Atlantic University that breaks down the everyday ways social media can change how we view ourselves (Florida Atlantic University, n.d.). The author explains how influencers often present romanticized versions of their lives, meaning perfect bodies, perfect apartments, perfect routines, and how constantly seeing these images can lead people to feel unattractive or like their own achievements don’t measure up. At the same time, the article points out that social media isn’t all bad: it can help people connect, express themselves, and find communities where they feel they belong, especially when they keep their usage to a more moderate level (Florida Atlantic University, n.d.).
Lastly, I explored a piece from the Child Mind Institute that focuses on social media, self-doubt, and mental health in teenagers (Child Mind Institute, n.d.). This article describes how teens often compare their real lives to their friends’ “highlight reels” and end up feeling like everyone else is more successful, happier, or more attractive than they are. It also explains how social media can make it harder for parents and friends to notice when someone is struggling, because carefully edited posts can hide serious anxiety, depression, or disordered eating behind seemingly perfect pictures (Child Mind Institute, n.d.). The article offers practical suggestions for families, like taking social media breaks, talking openly about what might be edited or cropped out of photos, and reminding teens that what they see online isn’t the full story.
Overall, my research shows that social media can strongly influence how teens see their bodies and their overall worth, especially when use becomes excessive or comparison-heavy. At the same time, these sources suggest that with awareness, boundaries, and support, it is possible to use social media more intentionally and protect a healthier self-image.
This has real-world effects: teens might skip going to the pool with friends because they’re scared of how they’ll look in photos, or spend hours retaking and editing selfies just to feel “good enough” to post. Some may stay up late scrolling through perfect feeds and wake up feeling drained, behind, or less confident before their day even starts. These patterns show why it’s so important to build healthier online habits now, while social media is such a big part of everyday life.
SOURCES:
Colak, Mehmet, et al. “Self-Esteem and Social Media Addiction Level in Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Body Image.” Indian Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 65, no. 5, May 2023, pp. 595–600. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_306_22.
“Social Media and How It Affects Our Self Image.” Florida Atlantic University, https://www.fau.edu/thrive/students/thrive-thursdays/ourselfimage/. Accessed 06 Dec. 2025.
“Social Media and Self-Doubt.” Child Mind Institute, https://childmind.org/article/social-media-and-self-doubt/. Accessed 06 Dec. 2025.
Create Your Own Website With Webador