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Far from being reserved for women, filters are also used by men on social networks. And they are not spared from their negative effects. According to a Canadian study, the use of filters can push young men to suffer from muscle dysmorphophobia, to adhere to the beauty dictates advocated online. A quarter of young Canadians surveyed showed symptoms, according to the study.
Muscles, always more muscles. On social networks, videos from sports coaches or fitness influencers flood news feeds whether on TikTok or Instagram, thus promoting a sculpted and ever more toned physique. On social networks, the famous “beauty” filters, which have already caused a lot of ink to flow, once again find themselves at the heart of a controversy. But this time, the first affected are the young men. Using filters on social networks like TikTok, Instagram or even Snapchat would accentuate dysmorphophobia among young adolescents, who are still growing. This is what demonstrates a study conducted by the University of Toronto, among 912 young adolescents and young adults in Canada. According to her, young boys were more affected by this phenomenon than young girls, suffering from other forms of dysmorphophobia linked to filters on social networks. “Muscle dysmorphia symptomatology is more common in boys and men, with more than 25% of boys and young men in a Canadian community sample having clinically relevant symptoms“, explains the study.
For professionals, muscle dysmorphophobia is one of the psychiatric disorders. Sufferers are excessively concerned with their appearance, dwelling on their musculature which they wish to be “perfect” or which they consider insufficient. Unattainable expectations due to unrealistic filters on platforms.
A vicious circle
The researchers in this study point out retouched images and other content on social networks that contribute to the discomfort of young Canadian adolescents. Social media filters create unrealistic expectations for physical appearance, which can have detrimental consequences for young men’s mental health. According to Kyle T. Ganson, “our study clearly shows that frequent use of photo filters is associated with higher levels of muscle dissatisfaction and overall symptoms of muscle dysmorphia.”
Researchers also noted gender differences in the use of photo filters. Boys and men who used photo filters showed a greater desire to increase their muscularity and difficulties with social and professional functioning compared to the girls and women in the study. “Our study highlights the often overlooked impact of photo filter use on muscle dysmorphophobia, particularly in boys and men. As digital image manipulation becomes more advanced and widespread, it is essential to understand and mitigate the harmful effects it can have on body image and mental health“, adds Kyle T. Ganson, the lead author of the study, in a press release.
Worse still, the use of filters could push boys and young men “greater self-objectification, which is associated with negative body image, such as appearance anxiety and body shame“. This body dissatisfaction could even lead to a reduction in their presence in the social sphere. A snake biting its own tail.