topic: Does excessive use of social media affect self-body image in women?
1
Eiliana, you have a much better grasp of the chapter this time! However you divert from the RQ
and H we established in week one. You need to stick to the approved RQ and H. You also need to
move part of the bottom to the problem statement. You’re definitely on more solid ground now
with chapter one.
Please see comments below.
Chapter one: Introduction
This project will explore possible connections between high use of social media and selfbody image in women. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA, 2021) defines body
image as “how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in
your mind” (para. 1). The purpose of this project is to share the effects that social media has
mentally, physically and the effects with confidence in women in general and how it worsens
with more time spent on social media.
According to research, heavy use of social media has significantly affected women’s self-body
image (Walker et al., 2021); this relates how many women compare themselves with pictures they see on
social media, and half of them claim that the comparison is not favorable. This that women see can lead to
them having an unbalanced diet, eating disorders and lower self-esteem. Social interaction and
interpersonal relations are highly affected when individuals fail to interact with each other face-to-face.
Problem Statement
This project postulates excessive use of social media affects self-body image in women.
Researchers at California State University found “that individuals that visited any social
media site at least 58 times per week were 3 times more likely to feel socially isolated and
depressed compared to those who used social media fewer than 9 times per week” (Addiction
2
Center, 2021, para. 12). The more time spent on social media affects all ages- and genres, but
ultimately women want to be as attractive as the ones everyone sees and “likes” on social media.
In an article on the BBC website titled, “How Much Is ‘Too Much Time’ on Social Media?” “A large survey
was conducted in 2017 which found those showing addictive behaviors were more likely to be
women, young and single. They also tended to have lower levels of education, income and selfesteem” (Smith Galer, 2020, para. 14).
The research project is beneficial because it examines this problem in society by
assessing it through an independent variable which is the amount of time female subjects spend
on social media. The dependent variables are various ways of assessing body image.
Understanding the link between time on social media and body-image can help educate females
on why excessive use of social media can be harmful.
Research Questions
The research question asked in this project is: Does excessive use of social media affect selfbody image in women?
I will look at studies that investigate the amount of time women spend on social media,
including studies published in peer-reviewed journals.
starting with an article published in Forbes website, “The average internet user spent 2 hours,
25 minutes daily on social media in 2020” (Suciu, 2021). (Forbes is not an academic
source. Where did Forbes get the information about time spent on the internet? THAT’S the
source you want to cite.)
Next, I will look at studies that investigate the influence of influencers, filters, and ads.
Finally, (The following is all you need to say because it actually answers your RQ. Don’t bother
with sources that don’t answer the RQ.) I will look at studies investigating whether negative
3
body image issues such as body dysmorphia disorder, anorexia, and low self-esteem are linked to
excessive social media use.
Research Hypotheses
This project will explore possible connections between high use of social media and selfbody image in women. (You don’t need to restate the theme. You did this at the beginning of the
paper.)
Excessive use of social media affects self-body image in women.
The hypothesis tested in this project is: Excessive use of social media affects self-body image in
women.
(Now continue with the independent variable you will test. This is also from the proposal.)
The independent variable tested is the amount of time female subjects spend on social media
correlated with their assessment of their own bodies.
(The following in yellow belongs in the problem statement.) Our perception pattern(pattern?) can
be stolen, making us perceive exaggerated body flaws in our physical appearance. This is known
as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a mental health disorder. With BDD a person may be so
worried about the way their body looks that it interferes with the ability to function normally
(NEDA, 2021).
Another condition that may be caused is anorexia nervosa. This may result in poor eating
habits to attain an idealized body shape; with this condition people may omit some food to lower
weight and over-exercise, causing individuals to isolate herself from friends and families, which
makes them get deep into platforms that make them engage in unfavorable comparison, guilt,
4
and low self-worth. Nutritional deficiencies and psychological symptoms caused by anorexia can
lead to feeling dizzy, exhausted, and unable to concentrate. In extreme cases, it can lead to
fragile bones, loss of hair, and more. Some of the essential theories that are helpful in research
include the conflict theory. This theory suggests a significant effect of social media on the
discord between genders and distance reinforcement, among many other malicious effects,
instead on social harmony promotion.
(You need to clean up the formatting in your references, but that can wait until week seven.)
References:
Hillard, Jilian. Addiction Center. Social Media Addiction. Nov 2021.
https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/social-media-addiction/
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/body-dysmorphicdisorder
NEDA; National Eating Disorders Association, Media & Eating Disorders, 2021
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/media-eating-disorders\
5
Sandoiu, Ana. Medical News Today. How does social media use affect our body image?
Nov 2018. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323725#Studying-social-media-use-andbody-image
Smith Galer, Sophia. BBC Future, How much is ‘too much time’ on social media? Nov 2018.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180118-how-much-is-too-much-time-on-social-media
Walker, C. E., Krumhuber, E. G., Dayan, S., & Furnham, A. (2021). Effects of social media use
on desire for cosmetic surgery among young women. Current Psychology, 40(7), 33553364.
1
E- you have a much better grasp of the chapter this time! However you divert from the RQ and H
we established in week one. You need to stick to the approved RQ and H. You also need to move
part of the bottom to the problem statement. You’re definitely on more solid ground now with
chapter one.
Please see comments below.
Chapter one: Introduction
This project will explore possible connections between high use of social media and selfbody image in women. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA, 2021) defines body
image as “how you see yourself when you look in the mirror or when you picture yourself in
your mind” (para. 1). The purpose of this project is to share the effects that social media has
mentally, physically and the effects with confidence in women in general and how it worsens
with more time spent on social media.
According to research, heavy use of social media has significantly affected women’s self-body
image (Walker et al., 2021); this relates how many women compare themselves with pictures they see on
social media, and half of them claim that the comparison is not favorable. This that women see can lead to
them having an unbalanced diet, eating disorders and lower self-esteem. Social interaction and
interpersonal relations are highly affected when individuals fail to interact with each other face-to-face.
Problem Statement
This project postulates excessive use of social media affects self-body image in women.
Researchers at California State University found “that individuals that visited any social
media site at least 58 times per week were 3 times more likely to feel socially isolated and
depressed compared to those who used social media fewer than 9 times per week” (Addiction
2
Center, 2021, para. 12). The more time spent on social media affects all ages- and genres, but
ultimately women want to be as attractive as the ones everyone sees and “likes” on social media.
In an article on the BBC website titled, “How Much Is ‘Too Much Time’ on Social Media?” “A large survey
was conducted in 2017 which found those showing addictive behaviors were more likely to be
women, young and single. They also tended to have lower levels of education, income and selfesteem” (Smith Galer, 2020, para. 14).
The research project is beneficial because it examines this problem in society by
assessing it through an independent variable which is the amount of time female subjects spend
on social media. The dependent variables are various ways of assessing body image.
Understanding the link between time on social media and body-image can help educate females
on why excessive use of social media can be harmful.
Research Questions
The research question asked in this project is: Does excessive use of social media affect selfbody image in women?
I will look at studies that investigate the amount of time women spend on social media,
including studies published in peer-reviewed journals.
starting with an article published in Forbes website, “The average internet user spent 2 hours,
25 minutes daily on social media in 2020” (Suciu, 2021). (Forbes is not an academic
source. Where did Forbes get the information about time spent on the internet? THAT’S the
source you want to cite.)
Next, I will look at studies that investigate the influence of influencers, filters, and ads.
Finally, (The following is all you need to say because it actually answers your RQ. Don’t bother
with sources that don’t answer the RQ.) I will look at studies investigating whether negative
3
body image issues such as body dysmorphia disorder, anorexia, and low self-esteem are linked to
excessive social media use.
Research Hypotheses
This project will explore possible connections between high use of social media and selfbody image in women. (You don’t need to restate the theme. You did this at the beginning of the
paper.)
Excessive use of social media affects self-body image in women.
The hypothesis tested in this project is: Excessive use of social media affects self-body image in
women.
(Now continue with the independent variable you will test. This is also from the proposal.)
The independent variable tested is the amount of time female subjects spend on social media
correlated with their assessment of their own bodies.
(The following in yellow belongs in the problem statement.) Our perception pattern(pattern?) can
be stolen, making us perceive exaggerated body flaws in our physical appearance. This is known
as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a mental health disorder. With BDD a person may be so
worried about the way their body looks that it interferes with the ability to function normally
(NEDA, 2021).
Another condition that may be caused is anorexia nervosa. This may result in poor eating
habits to attain an idealized body shape; with this condition people may omit some food to lower
weight and over-exercise, causing individuals to isolate herself from friends and families, which
makes them get deep into platforms that make them engage in unfavorable comparison, guilt,
4
and low self-worth. Nutritional deficiencies and psychological symptoms caused by anorexia can
lead to feeling dizzy, exhausted, and unable to concentrate. In extreme cases, it can lead to
fragile bones, loss of hair, and more. Some of the essential theories that are helpful in research
include the conflict theory. This theory suggests a significant effect of social media on the
discord between genders and distance reinforcement, among many other malicious effects,
instead on social harmony promotion.
(You need to clean up the formatting in your references, but that can wait until week seven.)
References:
Hillard, Jilian. Addiction Center. Social Media Addiction. Nov 2021.
https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/social-media-addiction/
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/body-dysmorphicdisorder
NEDA; National Eating Disorders Association, Media & Eating Disorders, 2021
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/media-eating-disorders\
5
Sandoiu, Ana. Medical News Today. How does social media use affect our body image?
Nov 2018. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323725#Studying-social-media-use-andbody-image
Smith Galer, Sophia. BBC Future, How much is ‘too much time’ on social media? Nov 2018.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180118-how-much-is-too-much-time-on-social-media
Walker, C. E., Krumhuber, E. G., Dayan, S., & Furnham, A. (2021). Effects of social media use
on desire for cosmetic surgery among young women. Current Psychology, 40(7), 33553364.