Boys’ Body Image and Social Media

[Dr. Jason Nagata]: However, I also wanted to note that social media can have impacts on boys body image as well. And so I wrote this op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle highlighting some of the research that has been documented on social media impacts on boys’ body image. So the research has shown that boys are actually more likely than girls to allow for public followings. Male selfies are more likely to be full body photos that show muscles, whereas female selfies are more likely to focus on the face and a majority of male body image related Instagram posts depict muscularity and leanness. Other studies have shown that Instagram use in boys and men are associated with some disordered eating or muscle dysmorphia behaviors, such as meal skipping, disordered eating, muscle dissatisfaction and even use of anabolic steroids, which are illegal and can be dangerous.