How Social Media Positively Influences Body Image

Student Name Course Instructor Date Social Media Impact on Body Positivity Enhancements in technology over the years have seen the world opened up into one global village. Access and transfer of information and data has been specifically made easy fast and convenient through the internet and particularly through the media. The society has embraced the internet explosion which has in turn created social media platforms that include Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. These media platforms in the contemporary society have adversely influenced people’s perceptions on real life issues such as body image. Individuals have become accustomed to using these social media platforms as reference points for the attainment of the “ideal” body and often go to extreme lengths to achieve it. As a result, the struggles to conform to the society’s perfect body have led to severe health problems from poor eating methods and low self-esteem. Nonetheless, these social media platforms have also been integral in championing the acceptance of one’s appearance and overall body image. Through the vast numbers of followers in the platforms they have been successful in running campaigns that have reached all corners of the world. Various authors including Thoreau have also written books with themes touching on the effects of the media on body image and self-esteem issues. The research paper purports to examine how the social media platforms have been able to positively influence the aspect of body image in the society. There are over 3.2 billion people in social media platforms who have been at the forefront in the spreading of body positivity in the society. These platforms have people from diverse backgrounds who are connected through friendship or through common experiences. Individuals have been able to create groups on the social media platforms such as Facebook where they help each other on different issues including cooking tips, maternal care, where to buy cheap household items, job markets, business tips, community policing and life related issues. They have been at the forefront in bringing together people who suffer from low self-esteem issues because of the negative perceptions about their bodies and enabled them to share and express themselves positively. These social media groups have enabled individuals to appreciate their physical appearances and body sizes and advise the members from falling to the pressures of the “acceptable” body size standard set by the society. They also conduct regular live chat forum where the members are able to converse one on one and even share photos where they celebrate each other’s uniqueness. These social media groups have gone to the extent of setting up face to face meet ups where the members have been able to share more in person with their close relatives and friends. Social media platforms such as Instagram has really helped to promote body positivity through the posting of individual photos which shows that one is comfortable with how they look and their body sizes and hence is celebrating that aspect with his/her friends on the site. Reports from a survey recently conducted by Grose, who was examining the relationship between social media users around the world and the effects on body image, showed that, of the 3.2 Billion active social media users more than 20% of the users were in social media groups that engaged on matters relating to their health’s and self-esteem issues. The survey also noted that the “plus size divas” group on Facebook had over 500,000 sharing and celebrating their body sizes which has resulted in building their social confidence (Grose n.p). The social media groups have encouraged organisations to join the fight and this has led to the growth of social media movements spearheaded by the organisations in collaboration with some members of the social media groups. These movements by various organizations have been significant in empowering people and have even facilitated positive body conversations in platforms such as Facebook, twitter and Instagram. Mysko mentions in her article “If you have a Facebook friend or Instagram follower who regularly makes body shaming comments on your posts, empower yourself to delete or block that person from your social media account” (Mysko 117). The statement shows the role of the movements and social media groups in protecting people who others consider ugly or overweight from abuse and intimidation. They have empowered many people and educated them about their rights and as a result make it difficult to prejudice someone based on what is seen as different. These movements and groups free enrollment policies have enabled many people who were previously troubled to join and get assisted. Milsaps notes “There is nothing neither more rare, nor more beautiful than a woman being unapologetically herself and comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty” (Milsaps 335). The statement further reinstates the role that these groups have played in inspiring so many people not just in the US but all over the world. Social media platforms such as Twitter have been instrumental in championing campaigns by individuals and organisations promoting body positivity. There have been notable campaigns that have been conducted including the Dove Campaign that championed for women to embrace their beauty regardless of their body sizes or what the society thinks about them. A research conducted in the state of Florida on a sample of 100 women by Emilia showed that only 4 of the women appreciated and saw themselves beautiful (Alentola n.p). Companies that specifically deal with beauty products such as Dove in the US have been at the forefront in running campaigns that educate members of the public to love who they are and that the beauty products should only be a means to enhance what they already possess. Alentola mentions in her article advocating for the change in the narratives regarding marginalized bodies “the movement aims to show diversity in the portrayal of women and to encourage acceptance of all body types, skin colors, and body flaws by examining the hash tags #bodypostivity and #bodypositive which have more than three million pictures on Instagram” (Alentola n.p). They have often targeted women who are more conscious about their appearances than men to appreciate themselves and consider the fact that they were wonderfully made in the image of God. Organisations and individuals with financial muscles have also managed to hold several beauty pageants where all participants were rewarded in attempts to recognize that everyone is beautiful in their own way. These organisations have been able to reach a large number of people through the social media platforms where they place their advertisements and seek volunteers or hire social media influencers in helping them push the campaigns. Social media users have also pushed for the appreciation of body image through hash tags in the social media platforms. Popular hash tags such as the #whatmakesme beautiful that advocated for women to note that beauty is not only paged on physical attributes but also on personality traits went viral and got the attention of so many people around the world. There have also been other hash tags such as #Fatshion on Instagram that showed plus size women in stylish attires and #Fatkini, a campaign also on Instagram that promoted plus size women to wear bikinis to create a change from the norm where the society is used to skinny women. The power of social media has also been felt in its promotion for observing of proper diet and fitness styles by members of the society. The social media groups, movements and campaigns have greatly contributed to advocating for a healthy life style which would reflect in people’s appreciation of their appearances and body positivity. The Eating Disorder group on Facebook for instance has been instrumental in fighting unhealthy lifestyles in the society such as anti-eating disorders and educating the members on the significance of proper diet and frequent exercising on their health’s and bodies. The Eating Disorder group is renowned for its live chat platform on Facebook on body image and ways of improving one’s self esteem. There are also quite a number of food and fitness groups on social media that highlight various factors including what is required to attain the right body size and weight so that one is neither overweight nor underweight. Fitness facilities also have an online presence on social media a healthy lifestyle and educating the society on the significance of exercises on their body image. Sarah firmly states “A fit healthy body that is best fashion statement” (Woodruff n.p). As a result of pushing for a healthy lifestyle social media has helped combat serious conditions in the society including obesity and anorexia. The power of the social media platforms has pushed the government and other law enforcing bodies to establish laws that safeguard proper use of the internet in efforts to curb internet malpractices such cyber bullying which has for the longest time been targeting people with negative perceptions on the appearances. Victims of the attacks have greatly suffered and some have even committed suicide. Campaigns by various social media groups and movements by organisations have led members of government to enact laws that protect the rights of all citizens including in their usage of the internet and the social media platforms. Discussions on these platforms have also forced the government and the government institutions to assist in the education of the members of the public on the significance of appreciating ones physical appearance. The government has also set up various programs around the state where experienced counselors visit schools and colleges and guide the students on ways to counter low self-esteem issues. These counselors also attend to the other members of the society in community meetings and after worship events. The government has also been able to open up fitness centers across different states and has put up advertisements advocating for better diets and overall adoption of a healthy lifestyle in the mainstream media outlets. All these efforts wouldn’t be possible without the role of the social me...