A new research suggests that spending lots of time on Facebook looking at pictures of friends could make women insecure about their body image.
The more women are exposed to “selfies” and other photos on social media, the more they compare themselves negatively, according to US and UK experts.
Friends’ photos may be more influential than celebrity shots as they are of known contacts, the study says.
The study is the first to link time on social media to poor body image.
The mass media are known to influence how people feel about their appearance.
Young women are particularly high users of social networking sites and post more photographs of themselves on the internet than do men
But little is known about how social media impact on self-image.
Young women are particularly high users of social networking sites and post more photographs of themselves on the internet than do men.
To look at the impact on body image, researchers at the University of Strathclyde, Ohio University and University of Iowa surveyed 881 female college students in the US.
The women answered questions about their Facebook use, eating and exercise regimes, and body image.
The research, presented at a conference in Seattle, found no link with eating disorders.
But it did find a link between time spent on social networks and negative comparisons about body image.
The more time women spent on Facebook, the more they compared their bodies with those of their friends, and the more they felt negative about their appearance.
Lady Gaga recently admitted to putting on 30 lbs and now she has weighed in on the body image debate.
In an interview with Stylist magazine, Lady Gaga speaks out after hitting headlines because of her weight gain and asked why people didn’t target British singer Adele.
Speaking to the magazine Lady Gaga said: “Adele is bigger than me, how come nobody says anything about it? She’s so wonderful and I think her confidence is something I have to match. She has set the bar very high for a lot of women.”
Lady Gaga, real name Stefani Germanotta, 26, explained how her mother had called her and asked her whether she had gained weight after pictures were published in magazines and online.
She said: “I was acutely aware of some photos on the internet – my mum called me and was like, <<Did you gain weight?>> – everybody was telling me about it, and I didn’t really care. But when I heard it was on the news, where they talk about wars, the economy crashing and the election – I just thought, <<This is f***ing ridiculous>>.”
The singer added: “I mean, what kind of example is that to a young girl sitting at home? I thought, well I don’t really care if they think I’m fat, because, quite honestly, I did gain about 30 pounds.”
In an interview with Stylist magazine, Lady Gaga speaks out after hitting headlines because of her weight gain and asked why people didn’t target British singer Adele
Lady Gaga was talking about her Body Revolution where she asks her fans to embrace their flaws whatever their shape.
She told the magazine that her fans carry the message so she can focus on her music.
While some critics may not like her larger shape her boyfriend Taylor Kinney is a big fan of her curves.
Taylor Kinney recently revealed that Lady Gaga reminded him of his mother, in a good way.
Speaking to The Sun, Taylor Kinney said: “She works incredibly hard and is very strong and inspirational like mom, with a great work ethic.”
