Social Media Use & Body Dissatisfaction
Social media use is widespread among young people. Although social media can provide opportunities for connection, a sense of belonging, and access to information, it may also negatively affect adolescents’ body image, particularly through social comparison.
Body Image and Body Dissatisfaction
Body image comprises the beliefs, feelings, perceptions, and behaviours that individuals have towards their own bodies and is shaped by a range of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors, which can be particularly influential for youth (Hock et al., 2025).
Body dissatisfaction occurs when an individual holds negative attitudes, thoughts, or beliefs about their body or physical appearance, often resulting from a perceived discrepancy between their actual body image and an ideal body image (Heider et al., 2018). Body dissatisfaction has been linked to negative psychological and physical health outcomes, such as reduced self-esteem, negative emotions (e.g., depression), and lower physical activity, especially among youth (Hock et al., 2025; Reel et al., 2015).
How Does Social Media Influence Body Image?
Photo-based social media platforms, such as Instagram, may influence how users perceive bodies, offer numerous opportunities for appearance-based comparisons, and may encourage users to engage in such comparisons (Bonfanti et al., 2025; Hock et al., 2025). When users are exposed to appearance-based content, which is often deliberately chosen and edited, they may:
Internalize body ideals (Bonfanti et al., 2025; Hock et al., 2025)
Engage in self-objectification, the process where individuals perceive their body from an outsider’s perspective and prioritize physical appearance over internal attributes (Bonfanti et al., 2025; Liu et al., 2025)
Body ideals for females are often portrayed as thin and toned, and for males as lean and muscular (Bonfanti et al., 2025; Hock et al., 2025). When a user’s perceived appearance does not meet these ideal body standards, body dissatisfaction may occur (Hock et al., 2025). Research indicates that the association between social media use and body dissatisfaction is observed among adolescents and adults alike and is more pronounced when consuming appearance-based content (Hock et al., 2025). This association was particularly evident among young populations who typically have more screen time and compare themselves to idealized images more frequently (Hock et al., 2025).
A study involving 21, 277 youth aged 10–17 across six countries (Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States) found that approximately 55% of participants experienced some degree of body dissatisfaction (Hock et al., 2025). The same study also found that greater time spent on social media was associated with a higher likelihood of body dissatisfaction.
Beyond body dissatisfaction, research has also found that social media exposure and resulting social comparisons can be associated with greater risks of eating disorder symptoms, including shape, weight, and eating concerns (Bonfanti et al., 2025; Demetriou et al., 2025).
The Role of Social Comparison
Social comparison theory states that individuals engage in self-comparison to fulfill their need for self-evaluation(Bonfanti et al., 2025). When individuals compare themselves to others, they perceive others as being either better than themselves (upward social comparison), worse than themselves (downward social comparison), or equal to them (lateral social comparison) (Bonfanti et al., 2025). Research suggests that greater social media use has the strongest association with upward comparison, which may be linked to greater body dissatisfaction and eating disorder symptoms (Bonfanti et al., 2025).
Cognitive Behavioural Techniques to Improve Body Image
While the consequences of body dissatisfaction can be significant, many interventions have been designed to promote healthier body image. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one evidence-based approach used to address negative body image. CBT provides individuals with techniques to identify and modify maladaptive thoughts and behaviours and to replace them with more balanced perspectives (Alleva et al., 2015). Examples of these techniques include:
Self-monitoring thoughts and behaviours
Individuals learn how to monitor and record their thoughts and behaviours that may contribute to their body dissatisfaction. This can be done by using a journal to track the “activating event”, beliefs about the event, and the consequences of those beliefs.
For example: Seeing an image online of an individual who fits a body ideal → Believing that individual has a more desirable trait (e.g., their thinness) → Experiencing body dissatisfaction or low self-esteem
Challenging cognitions
Discussing and challenging cognitions that affect feelings and behaviours related to body image can enhance self-awareness and foster healthier perspectives. Examples of the types of cognitions that can be targeted include:
Irrational beliefs (e.g., “Only thin women are beautiful and desired.”)
Cognitive errors (e.g., dichotomous, black-and-white, or all-or-nothing thinking: “If I'm not thin, I'm unattractive.”)
Automatic thoughts (e.g., “They are more attractive than me.”)
Media literacy training
Media literacy training aims to help individuals become more critical of media messages. This can help individuals realize that:
Social media content is deliberately constructed
Posts only portray one version of reality
Media often aims to sell products, values, and ideas
Discussing beauty ideals
Having open discussions regarding beauty ideals and how they develop can help individuals:
Identify their own beauty ideals and how they have been shaped by social media, cultural expectations, and personal experiences
Learn how beauty ideals change over time, vary across cultures, and can be unrealistic
Become aware of the false assumptions regarding beauty ideals (e.g., “Thin people are happier”)
If you're struggling with social media use or body image concerns and are interested in learning how cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may help, consider reaching out to North Shore CBT Centre at 778-928-9069 or info@northshorecbt.com to learn more about available services.
Andia Salehi, Doctoral Practicum Student
References
Alleva, J. M., Sheeran, P., Webb, T. L., Martijn, C., & Miles, E. (2015). A Meta-Analytic Review of Stand-Alone Interventions to Improve Body Image. PLOS ONE, 10(9), e0139177. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139177
Bonfanti, R. C., Melchiori, F., Teti, A., Albano, G., Raffard, S., Rodgers, R., & Lo Coco, G. (2025). The association between social comparison in social media, body image concerns and eating disorder symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Body Image, 52, 101841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101841
Demetriou, M., Anagnostopoulou, V., Markatis, V., Peyioti, M., & Argitis, P. (2025). The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Body Image: A Comprehensive Review. European Psychiatry, 68(S1), S548–S548. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.1124
Heider, N., Spruyt, A., & De Houwer, J. (2018). Body Dissatisfaction Revisited: On the Importance of Implicit Beliefs about Actual and Ideal Body Image. Psychologica Belgica, 57(4), 158. https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.362
Hock, K., Vanderlee, L., White, C. M., & Hammond, D. (2025). Body Weight Perceptions Among Youth From 6 Countries and Associations With Social Media Use: Findings From the International Food Policy Study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 125(1), 24-41.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.06.223