Men beware! Your Instagram feed may be promoting body insecurity, muscle dysmorphia

Generally, body image issues arising from unrealistic beauty standards on social media are discussed primarily in terms of how they affect women. For a long time the focus was on women struggling with distorted beauty images on social media. However, a University of South Australia study published in New Media & Society examined male body image issues as they are also influenced by disproportionate depictions of toned abs and biceps on TikTok and Instagram.

The emphasis on muscular physiques in depictions of men’s bodies on social media creates insecurities in men who consume this content and leads to muscle dysmorphia, a mental health condition where people obsessively believe that they have a healthy body despite having Their muscles are too small or weak. They develop problems of low self-esteem.

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Social media shapes male body image

Researchers emphasized the harmful nature of social media because it only portrays a particular type of body, leading everyone to believe that this is the only ideal type and that other body shapes are unnatural, even if they are similar. Get fit with. Similarly, male bodies on social media are shown as extremely strong figures with muscular arms, ripped biceps and six-pack abs. This type of portrayal places a fascination on hyper-muscular bodies. According to research, men ages 18 to 34 who frequently consume celebrity, fashion, and fitness content report higher levels of dissatisfaction with their bodies.

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Relationship of like-comment with body image

Researchers took an in-depth look at the psychology of social media likes and comments on individual posts and how they played a significant role. Men who are more concerned about the number of likes and comments show symptoms of muscle dysmorphia. This serves as a form of validation and can sometimes even be addictive, motivating men to become even more muscular.

Dr. John Mingoia, a lecturer at the University of South Australia and co-author of the study, said, “When these posts attract large numbers of likes and positive comments, they reinforce the message that this is the body standard to which men should strive.” Should try. Over time, this can lead to harmful behaviors like excessive exercise, restricted eating habits, and even steroid use. Researchers suggested limiting consumption of content with unrealistic body depictions to prevent muscle dysmorphia.

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