The Impact of Social Media on Self-Esteem in Young Women
Kavya Kumar
February 2025
Social media has become a significant part of young women’s lives, offering ways to connect, find community, and learn new things (like how to perfectly contour your nose using only a potato and some glitter — because, priorities). However, its widespread use also raises concerns about how it affects body image and self-esteem. The often unrealistic portrayals of beauty found on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X can contribute to negative self-perception and a distorted view of reality.
Idealized Images in the Media
One major issue is the constant exposure to idealized images. These images are edited, filtered, and enhanced to present an illusion of perfection. This can cause young women to constantly compare themselves with what they see online, leading to feelings of incompetence and dissatisfaction with their own appearance.[1] These feelings are significant risk factors for eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.[2] Essentially, scrolling on your cell phone can lead to some serious “ugh” moments, as well as the sudden urge to throw your phone across the room in frustration — resist the urge!
The Pressure to Perform (and the Never-Ending Quest for Likes)
The performative nature of social media can make things even worse. People often carefully craft their online personas, leading to the false impression that everyone — except you — is perfect. This can pressure users to maintain an impeccable image, causing unnecessary anxiety and stress. Constantly seeking likes, comments, and followers can become a way to seek validation, tying self-worth to external approval and validation.[3] It’s like a never-ending popularity contest, and the prize is…well, more likes. Which, let’s be honest, doesn’t pay the rent.
The Positive Side of Social Media
Admittedly, social media isn’t all bad. Some platforms offer supportive communities and promote positivity! In particular, movements that celebrate body diversity and challenge unrealistic beauty stereotypes can be really empowering. You can also use social media to find information and connect with like-minded individuals. The key is to be aware of the content you’re consuming without letting it consume you.
Learning to be Media-Savvy
Especially in this day and age, developing media literacy skills is crucial in order to navigate the digital world safely. Young women need to learn how to evaluate the images and messages they see online. This includes recognizing altered photos and understanding that social media usually shows a very selective view of reality. Learning to spot a bad Photoshop job is a valuable life skill, trust me.
It’s also important to develop a strong sense of self that doesn’t depend on what others think. The opinions of others really don’t matter because at the end of the day, you are beautiful just the way you are. Yes, you. You’re a masterpiece in progress, a unique blend of awesome, and no filter or validation-seeking behavior can change that.
Now, if you want to follow a specific diet or do an intense workout, go for it! But, and this is a huge but, only do it because you want to. Not because of some influencer’s impeccable abs or what your friends are doing. Do it because it makes you feel good and it makes you happy, and not because you’re trying to fit into someone else’s mold. Every decision we make for ourselves should come from a place of self-care, guided by what truly drives us and brings joy to our lives.
Sometimes, the best “like” is the warmth of the sun on your skin, the feel of the wind running through your hair, or simply checking something off your to-do list. Take a break from your phone, go outside, and rediscover the world around you — a beautiful, unfiltered, and unPhotoshopped experience awaits.
References
[1] Prichard, I., Tiggemann, M., & Slater, A. (2012). The effects of viewing ultra-thin media images on women’s body image, mood, and self-esteem. Body Image, 9(1), 87–96.
[2] Smolak, L., & Levine, M. P. (1996). A cognitive-developmental model of the development of body image and eating disorders. Eating Disorders, 4(3), 165–180.
[3] Hunt, J., Marx, R., Lipson, C., & Young, J. (2018). No More FOMO: Reducing Social Media Envy Through Awareness. Computers in Human Behavior, 79, 265–272.
