This week, I read the article Body Image and Social Media Use Among Emerging Adults: The Mediating Role of Appearance Comparisons by Fardouly and Vartanian (2016). The study examines how social media usage influences body dissatisfaction among young adults through the mechanism of appearance-based social comparison. Using a large sample of college aged participants, the authors found that the frequency of appearance related activities on social media, such as viewing others’ photos and posting selfies was strongly associated with negative body image. Importantly, they argue that it’s not just the amount of time spent online that matters, but the type of engagement. Comparing oneself to others’ highly curated images tends to increase body dissatisfaction and self-objectification, especially for women. The study helps clarify the psychological process behind body image anxiety, showing that internalized beauty ideals are constantly reinforced through interactive online environments.
This article directly supports my documentary project, which explores how social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram contribute to body image pressure and disordered eating among female college students. The concept of “appearance comparison” is central to my project, it helps me interpret both the academic research and the emotional narratives I’m collecting through interviews. The article also reinforces the importance of analyzing not only the media content itself, but also how individuals emotionally respond to it. I plan to incorporate this theoretical framing into my paper’s analysis section and use it to guide my interview questions about self-comparison, confidence, and self-perception online.
This week, I conducted one or two online interviews for my documentary and started collecting initial insights from participants. Hearing their honest stories made me realize how universal this experience is, even across different backgrounds. I plan to film more b-roll footage this weekend to visualize some of the ideas that came up in the interviews, especially moments related to food, reflection, and self-image. Suddenly, the schedule feels much tighter as the semester is moving quickly, but I’m determined to keep up with the pace. I know this project means a lot to me, and I’ll do my best to make steady progress in both the academic and creative parts of it.
Reference
Fardouly, J., & Vartanian, L. R. (2016). Social media and body image concerns: Current research and future directions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 9, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.09.005