Men’s body image concerns have deep historical roots, so do women. While, the history of modeling, the allure of beauty pageants, and the impact of the film industry have shaped societal expectations of the male physique.These worries have become noticeably more pressing in the modern era as the internet has become more widely accessible.Unfortunately, men’s body issues receive less attention as men receive less positive comments than women. This blog post explores the particular challenges that men face in maintaining a positive self-image and offers suggestions for staying upbeat while figuring out the intricacies of social media and technology.

Digital Comparisons: The Age of Self-Image Scrutiny

The rise of technology and social media has given rise to a constant stream of images and comparisons. Social media users’ tendency to upload only beautiful photos and delete unattractive ones, along with other distinctive aspects, all contribute to the platform’s negative effects on body image. It’s been evident in recent years that male body image issues are growing more common. Men’s body issues are fostered by advertisements and social media that promote thin and strong masculine body ideals, which foster body insecurities (Pope et al., 2000, p. 30; Rohlinger, 2002). Teenage boys and young men who feel their bodies don’t match the ideal of a socially acceptable masculine body frequently endure bullying from their peers. (Carlson Jones, Vigfusdottir, & Lee, 2004; Grogan & Richards, 2002; McCabe, Ricciardelli, & Finemore, 2002). Men are socially conditioned not to talk about mental health issues or body image issues because of the belief that doing so could make them feel less manly. This makes it difficult to discuss these problems freely and ask for help.

Filtered Reality and Unrealistic Standards

An era of self-presentation has been started by the widespread use of image filters and editing software. These tools can lead to a false sense of self-perception, even while they provide creative choices for image enhancement. Young men’s use of social media and fashionable attire enhances appearance fixations and anxiety over their looks, leading to heightened body consciousness(Gough, Hall, and Seymour-Smith 2014).  It can be difficult for males to accept their true looks as a result of this digital distortion, which can cause feelings of inadequacy and a widening gap between their virtual and real selves.While striving for perfection, these digital advancements might inadvertently lessen the beauty found in individuality and flaws

 Impact on  Physical and Mental Health

One of the few articles that examines the emotional impact of media pictures  discovered that men with high levels of body dissatisfaction felt less happy looking at  photographs of themselves (Hausenblas, Janelle, Gardner, & Hagan, 2002). An increasing number of men are exhibiting symptoms of body dysmorphia, excessive exercise, eating disorders, and steroid use.Moreover, it was found that media images had a significant effect on men’s perception of diets (Harrison and Cantor (1997). Nemeroff, Stein, Diehl, and Smilack (1994) reported an increase in men’s health and fitness activities, while Rash (2004) showed that 25% of male participants engaged in excessive exercise. Seeking Confirmation: The Connection Between Online Appearance and Self-Worth One important issue affecting men’s self-esteem is their search for online validation.

Seeking Validation: The Link Between Online Recognition and Self-Worth

One major issue affecting men’s self-esteem is the search for online validation. In the modern world, social media followers, likes, and comments have become the go-to indicators of someone’s worth. Men often find themselves on a roller coaster of emotions, their self-esteem fluctuating with each virtual interaction. In the online realm, the pursuit of validation can result in a never-ending cycle of seeking approval, perhaps overshadowing the significance of authentic self-acceptance and self-worth derived from one’s inherent traits. The impact of this pursuit on men’s mental health underscores the need for a balanced perspective in the digital realm, where external validation should not eclipse the significance of self-affirmation.

Strategies for Digital Well-being: Mindful Engagement

Mindful Engagement: It’s critical to approach social media and technology in the digital age with awareness. This entails being aware of what you do and how your internet interactions affect your mental health.

Setting Boundaries: Clearly define the parameters of your online interactions. Determine how long you can stay online without feeling uncomfortable, and know when to cut off.

Organizing Your Internet Adventure: Choose carefully who you follow and what stuff you take in. Establish an online space that encourages optimism and acceptance of oneself.

Keeping the Digital and Real Worlds in Balance: Keep in mind that the internet is a carefully edited representation of reality. Keeping your digital life and your connections and experiences in real life in balance is crucial.

Internal Assessment: Give internally generated self-affirmation more weight. Online approval might be satisfying, but it shouldn’t take precedence over the inherent worth you assign to yourself.

Digital Detox: To disengage and reset, think about doing occasional digital detoxes. You may strengthen your connection to the real world and your true self by taking these breaks.

Sharing Selectively: Use caution when sharing anything online. You don’t have to share every detail of your life online; your digital presence is a carefully chosen depiction of it. Choose to share moments that align with your values and objectives.

References

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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

Green, S. P., & Pritchard, M. E. (2003). PREDICTORS OF BODY IMAGE DISSATISFACTION IN ADULT MEN AND WOMEN. Social Behavior and Personality, 31(3), 215–222. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2003.31.3.215

Hargreaves, D., & Tiggemann, M. (2004). Idealized media images and adolescent body image: “comparing” boys and girls. Body Image, 1(4), 351–361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2004.10.002

Hildebrandt, T., Langenbucher, J., & Schlundt, D. G. (2004c). Muscularity concerns among men: development of attitudinal and perceptual measures. Body Image, 1(2), 169–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2004.01.001

Hobza, C. L., Walker, K., Yakushko, O., & Peugh, J. (2007). What about men? Social comparison and the effects of media images on body and self-esteem. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 8(3), 161–172. https://doi.org/10.1037/1524-9220.8.3.161

McCabe, M. P., & McGreevy, S. J. (2010). Role of media and peers on body change strategies among adult men: Is body size important? European Eating Disorders Review, n/a. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.1063

Ricciardelli, L. A., McCabe, M. P., & Banfield, S. (2000). Body image and body change methods in adolescent boys. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 49(3), 189–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3999(00)00159-8

Social Media Victims Law Center PLLC. (2023, September 18). Social media’s effect on Self-Esteem: How does it affect teens? Social Media Victims Law Center. https://socialmediavictims.org/mental-health/self-esteem/

Sklar, E. (2015). Body Image, Weight, and Self-Concept in men. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 11(3), 252–258. https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827615594351

Author: -Shubhangi Gupta, – reviewed by Angana Mukherjee ( Clinical Psychologist)