How Social Media is Messing with Your Mind (and How to Take Back Control)
Social media has become an inescapable part of everyday life, with platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok captivating users worldwide. While social media offers connection and community, research suggests it also has profound effects on mental health, particularly for women.
The Hidden Impact of Social Media and Self-Objectification
From a young age, girls learn that their worth is often tied to their looks. Research has shown that even as early as kindergarten, girls receive comments and scrutiny about their appearance and are perceived differently based on how they look. It’s no surprise that social media amplifies this experience.
Every perfectly curated photo and heavily filtered image reinforces impossible beauty standards, leading to self-objectification — the habit of viewing and evaluating oneself through the eyes of others. As a result, women often feel pressure to monitor their appearance constantly, contributing to low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction.
Studies show that the more women are exposed to objectification — whether in real life or on social media — the higher their risk for eating disorders, depression, and body shame. Unlike traditional media, like television or magazines, social media uniquely encourage users to fixate on their own bodies.
The Illusion of Control
Social media enables users to curate their appearance through strategic photo selection, editing tools, and filters. Users are also rewarded with likes, views, comments, and shares — deepening the belief that crafting the perfect post can lead to validation. While it may feel like users have control over how their appearance is perceived, this type of relationship with social media can be harmful in the long run. It perpetuates self-objectification, fuels anxiety, and encourages constant self-surveillance.
How to Break the Cycle
While it’s hard to avoid the pressures of social media, there are ways to minimize its negative effects:
Curate Your Feed: Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself and follow body-positive, diverse, and realistic accounts.
Limit Scrolling Time: Set time limits for social media use to reduce excessive comparison.
Engage in Media Literacy: Remember that most images are edited and do not reflect reality.
Practice Self-Compassion: Remind yourself that beauty standards are unrealistic and do not define your worth.
Social media has reshaped how we view ourselves and each other, but by becoming more mindful of its effects, we can take back control of our mental health and self-worth.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the impact of social media on your mental health and self-worth, don’t navigate it alone — contact us at Uptown Downtown Psychotherapy today and take the first step toward reclaiming your peace of mind.
References
Fredrickson, B.L., & Roberts, T. (1997). Objectification theory. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 21, 173-206.
Mabe, A.G., Forney, K.J., & Keel, P.K. (2014). Do you “like” my photo? Facebook use maintains eating disorder risk. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47(5), 516-523. doi:10.1002/eat.22254
Martin, K.A. (1996). Puberty, sexuality, and the self: Boys and girls at adolescence. New York: Routledge.
McKinley, N.M., & Hyde, J.S. (1996). The Objectified Body Consciousness Scale. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 20, 181-215.