We are slowly entering the crisp, cool fall days and leaving the summer months behind. Autumn leaves fall, pumpkin spice lattes reemerge, and social media epitomizes the ‘fall aesthetic.’ We swap bathing suits for sweaters and flip-flops for boots. However, the influence of social media, especially during autumn, can have a massive impact on how people view their bodies and themselves.
By: Regina Colie
Social Media Is A Highlight Reel
Social media dominates our culture. Millions flock to apps like Instragm and TikTok to capture, share, like, and follow. The popularity of the autumn season comes into full force in August and September as social media users become enamored with posting fall photos and buying early Halloween decorations. The ‘fall aesthetic’ promotes a specific look for people on social media, and the pressure to look a certain way can add to body dissatisfaction.
People between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five showed higher rates of dissatisfaction with their bodies when comparing themselves to others on social media. This is problematic because most photos on Instagram are edited or filtered before uploading. As a result, people are comparing themselves to versions of others that don’t exist in the real world.
Why Can Autumn Impact Body Image?
While the autumn season can be a beautiful and exciting time for people returning to school and celebrating their favorite holidays, there is no doubt that there are high expectations to fall in line with a certain “fall aesthetic.” People of different body types can feel excluded from this aesthetic if their body type is not represented. Social media comparisons can also lead people to question their own choices based on what influencers say they do on different social media platforms. The best way to enjoy the autumn season on social media is to follow accounts that are body positive and engage in activities that make you happy, regardless of what influencers say.
With the weather getting cooler and the holiday season getting closer, you may notice that triggers and urges seem to come up more frequently, especially with the holidays right around the corner. BALANCE’s new Holiday Headstart 12-Day Intensive can guide you toward lasting recovery. Get tools to jumpstart your recovery, expert guidance from our experienced, compassionate team, actionable steps to build into your everyday routine to solidify your recovery, concentrated care to help you build resilience this holiday season, and more. Learn more about our limited-time Holiday Headstart 12-Day Intensive here.
We also know many people’s body image is affected by what content they view on social media, and we have multiple free webinars to learn more about this. Watch our Fact Check Your Feed: Debunking Diet Misinformation and our Taking on Body Image: What Influences Body Image and How to Improve Your Own webinars on the BALANCE YouTube channel.
References
Heger, E., Mendez, M., Heger, E., & Mendez, M. (2022). The sneaky ways social media can sabotage your body image — and 3 easy tips to help you break the cycle. Insider. https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-social-media-affects-body-image
Stoll, R. (2022, May 18). Negative effects of social media trends and fads. The Claw. https://thecampoclaw.com/opinion/2022/05/18/negative-effects-of-social-media-trends-and-fads/
The Learning Network. (2022, March 31). What students are saying about how social media affects their body image. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/learning/what-students-are-saying-about-how-social-media-affects-their-body-image.html
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Regina Colie (she/her).
Regina Colie is currently pursuing her Masters in General Psychology at The New School For Social Research. She is interested in working with women who have eating disorders and postpartum depression. Upon her graduation from Marymount Manhattan College, she had the opportunity to be published in Dr. Nava Silton’s book, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child, Adolescent, and Adult Development. Her previous work has been featured in Project HEAL, BALANCE, Olive Branch Nutrition, and Nourishing NY.
