8 Sneaky Ways Social Media Affects Your Body Image

A woman's hands hold a smartphone displaying various social media application icons.

Social media's influence on our body image is insidious and it shapes how we perceive ourselves. This is true for men and women, but women are affected the most because the beauty standards placed on them are widely unrealistic. Today, social media is a billboard for whatever ideal body or beauty standard is popular at any given time. Rarely does that include Latina women. Being aware of the effects of social media can help us protect our mental health and love our bodies as they are. Here are 8 sneaky ways social media affect your body image:


Edited photos can create a sense of inadequacy

woman wearing black crew-neck shirtPhoto by Aiony Haust on Unsplash

Most people alter their appearance or use angles and poses to show their best version. This is particularly true of influencers who want to project a specific image. Filters and editing tools are so widespread that we don’t even register that most of the “perfect” photos we see on our feeds are most likely edited. This only helps to uphold unrealistic standards and often leads to feelings of inadequacy. How many times have you thought “I don’t look like that” when scrolling on social media? That’s the danger of constant exposure to picture-perfect bodies and faces. If you want to make your feed more realistic, follow body positive influencers who reflect reality and find content creators you can see yourself in.

Social media can amplify Body Dysmorphic Disorder

young woman facing her reflection in a mirror

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition that causes people to obsess over perceived flaws in their appearance. People with BDD fret over their image and constantly scrutinize themselves, which can lead to distress. Those with BDD also seek to “fix the problem,” but no matter what they do, they’re never satisfied with the way they look. Social media doesn't cause BDD, but it can make it worse by contributing to body dysmorphia. Constant exposure to “ideal bodies” makes anxiety and self-esteem issues worse, negatively impacting body image perception.

It provides constant exposure to beauty ideals and trends

woman broadcasting through her phone for social media

Considering that the average daily usage of social media is 2 hours and 23 minutes as of April 2024, it’s safe to say we’re constantly exposed to content. This is why it’s so important to be mindful of the people we decide to follow. If you’re only following influencers or celebrities who project unattainable beauty standards and who are unrelatable to you, it will contribute to dissatisfaction. That dissatisfaction with the way you look will inevitably distort your self-image, making you feel less confident with every passing day.

Social media fosters comparison culture

young woman looking at her phone with worried expression

Social media fosters social comparison more effectively than anything else. When we’re constantly exposed to idealized bodies and lives, it’s very difficult to avoid judging them as “better than us.” Often, this happens subconsciously, so we’re not even aware we’re doing it all the time. However, we have to remember social media is everyone’s highlight reel. People usually only show the good times and the most beautiful pics. That doesn’t mean they have it all figured out, they don’t have bad days, or they don’t struggle with something behind the scenes.

It can glorify unhealthy thinness and fitness

woman measuring her waist contour

One thing about social media is that it’s often used to promote unhealthy thinness and fitness. While there are many content creators in the fitness space who promote healthy habits and seek to educate others on their journeys, many others contribute to unhealthy habits by promoting disordered eating behaviors and excessive exercise. “Fitspiration” is not always bad, but it can be tricky to identify. Whenever you’re considering following someone to help you stay motivated on your weight loss or fitness goals, ask yourself: do they make you feel good in your own skin? Do they focus on what the body can do rather than how it looks? This can be a good way to sift between unhealthy and healthy influencers in the fitness space.

Social media can lead to self-esteem and self-confidence issues

young woman looking at her phone screen with sad expression

There’s no denying that social media can cause self-esteem and self-confidence issues by perpetuating unrealistic beauty ideals and “perfect” lifestyles. The constant exposure to meticulously curated narratives and aesthetics often creates an environment where we all feel compelled to measure up. Measuring up to unattainable standards only leads to a distorted perception of our bodies and lives, which can cause depression anxiety.

It inadvertently pushes you to embrace perfection

Woman sitting on the floor with her hands covering her face

The thing about using social media as a highlight reel is that it creates this idea of perfection. It’s very easy to buy into and embrace perfection as an attainable ideal, but it isn’t. No one is perfect, not you, and certainly not your favorite influencer or celebrity. It’s very important to recognize that most of what we see on social media is a fantasy, not a genuine representation of real life. Embracing authenticity is a lot healthier, so we encourage you to find, follow, and champion content creators who live by authenticity.

Social media promotes unrealistic expectations of aging

the screen of a cell phone with the social network feed showing the photo of a young woman

Even aging has become an undesirable thing with the rise of social media and the glorification of youthfulness. The use of filters and editing tools contributes tremendously to this because people often use them to hide natural signs of aging. Not to mention that the prevalence of influencers and celebrities endorsing cosmetic procedures is also on the rise. All of this contributes to unrealistic expectations of aging; yet another thing that makes people, women in particular, feel inadequate. To that, we say: remember that aging is a privilege and we should be so lucky to live long enough to be as wrinkled as a prune, surrounded by people who love us for who we are.

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).