Social networks: moving away from them has a beneficial effect on the body perception of young people

in collaboration with

Johanna Rozenblum (clinical psychologist)

On social networks, in particular Instagram, influencers compete with photos taken from the best angle, in order to refine their silhouette, their face or their skin texture. Objective: to show oneself in a (too) perfect light. So much so that it can generate complexes. Canadian researchers therefore had the idea of ​​measuring the effects of a cut in social networks on the young people who use them the most.

An average of six to eight hours a day on the screens

For this study, the researchers brought together 220 undergraduate students between the ages of 17 and 25. These young people spent on average between six and eight hours a day on the screens. They were also regular users of social networks on which they spent about two hours a day, via their telephone. Finally, the participants also had symptoms of anxiety or depression.

A strong limitation of the use of social networks

At the start of the experiment, the participants, divided into two groups, responded to certain statements about their appearance and weight on a scale of 1 (never) to 5 (always). The statements included claims like “I’m pretty happy with how I look.”.

During the first week of the experiment, participants normally used social media. Their use was tracked using a timing program.

During the second week, one of the groups of participants reduced their use of social networks, so as not to exceed a use of more than one hour per day, initially. Then afterwards, they limited their use to about 78 minutes per day, for the rest of the study. The other group continued their use of social media with an average of 188 minutes per day.

A 50% reduction in time spent has beneficial effects

Participants again responded to statements about their appearance and weight.

Results: Students who decreased their use of social media saw significant improvements in their attitude about their body image.

“Adolescence is a vulnerable time for the development of body image issues, eating disorders and mental illness. Young people spend an average of six to eight hours a day on screens, largely on social networks” explains Professor Gary Goldfield, lead author of the study and researcher at the Children’s Hospital of the Eastern Ontario Research Institute.

“Social media can expose users to hundreds or even thousands of images and photos every day, including those of celebrities and fashion or fitness models, leading to a generalization of beauty ideals that are inaccessible to almost everyone, leading to greater dissatisfaction with their body weight and shapes” adds the specialist.

According to him, “reducing social media use is a feasible method to produce a short-term positive effect on body image among a vulnerable population of users and should be evaluated as a potential component in the treatment of body-related disruptions. body image“.