By: Michelle Rodenhaver, Rebecca Grim, Briana Franks, and Patrick Mcmullen
Not much research has been done with body image and the internet's power to warp it. However, more and more research is being shown that the internet is responsible for negative body image just like magazines and other media are. Now, we not only use the internet for information anymore, but we do practically everything on it. We shop online, we pay bills online, we meet people online, we take classes online, etc. You get the picture, so of course we will become easily exposed to internet media and sites that can question ourselves in physical ways. Advertisers use the internet now to sell their products, and not just television and magazines. We can see advertisements all the time about dieting, food, weight-loss, fashion, models, etc. The internet allows for us to be exposed to ideal body images, which you will see in this site that research shows has negative effects on how we view our own body appearance. Most importantly, the target audience of the advertisements are meant to hit young women who are trying to discover themselves, and what better way than to manipulate these women into buying the advertisers' products, that state they will make the woman more beautiful as shown in the images. It's the same concept as magazines and television, however, the internet has taken over this world and can provide even what magazines and television offers. (Morris, 2010).
What is scary with the internet is that the information on the world wide web is readily available and easily accessible. With that, the exposure of images that provoke thinness as being beautiful (just like magazines and television) is also readily available and easily accessible. Also with the internet, it is world wide, so therefore, the viewers are much larger; one site can have a world wide population. Wouldn't it make sense then that women who are more easily exposed to the appearances of beauty and thinness on the internet have increased body dissatisfaction? The research suggests just that. The internet has shown to suggest body dissatisfaction among young women who are engaging in self-discovery.
One more note, not only does body dissatisfaction occur, but the rise of eating disorders easily occurs because of the woman's desire to be thin, because the media states that thinness is beautiful. You will notice the research on this site shows that the internet provides Pro-Anorexia sites where those with Anorexia Nervosa can use this site as a tool to help maintain the disorder. With members on the site to help encourage other members to stick with the disorder and overall support. Research suggest that many young woman have been exposed to such sites at this one, and not only that but those exposed to such a site have had increased body dissatisfaction than women who were exposed to neutral sites or sites that just informed viewers of eating disorders and the potential risks with them. (Harper, Sperry, & Thompson, 2008).
Not much research has been done with body image and the internet's power to warp it. However, more and more research is being shown that the internet is responsible for negative body image just like magazines and other media are. Now, we not only use the internet for information anymore, but we do practically everything on it. We shop online, we pay bills online, we meet people online, we take classes online, etc. You get the picture, so of course we will become easily exposed to internet media and sites that can question ourselves in physical ways. Advertisers use the internet now to sell their products, and not just television and magazines. We can see advertisements all the time about dieting, food, weight-loss, fashion, models, etc. The internet allows for us to be exposed to ideal body images, which you will see in this site that research shows has negative effects on how we view our own body appearance. Most importantly, the target audience of the advertisements are meant to hit young women who are trying to discover themselves, and what better way than to manipulate these women into buying the advertisers' products, that state they will make the woman more beautiful as shown in the images. It's the same concept as magazines and television, however, the internet has taken over this world and can provide even what magazines and television offers. (Morris, 2010).
What is scary with the internet is that the information on the world wide web is readily available and easily accessible. With that, the exposure of images that provoke thinness as being beautiful (just like magazines and television) is also readily available and easily accessible. Also with the internet, it is world wide, so therefore, the viewers are much larger; one site can have a world wide population. Wouldn't it make sense then that women who are more easily exposed to the appearances of beauty and thinness on the internet have increased body dissatisfaction? The research suggests just that. The internet has shown to suggest body dissatisfaction among young women who are engaging in self-discovery.
One more note, not only does body dissatisfaction occur, but the rise of eating disorders easily occurs because of the woman's desire to be thin, because the media states that thinness is beautiful. You will notice the research on this site shows that the internet provides Pro-Anorexia sites where those with Anorexia Nervosa can use this site as a tool to help maintain the disorder. With members on the site to help encourage other members to stick with the disorder and overall support. Research suggest that many young woman have been exposed to such sites at this one, and not only that but those exposed to such a site have had increased body dissatisfaction than women who were exposed to neutral sites or sites that just informed viewers of eating disorders and the potential risks with them. (Harper, Sperry, & Thompson, 2008).
What is Body Dissatisfaction?
Niide et. al. (2011), classifies body dissatisfaction as, "The difference between one's perceived body size and shape and one's ideal body; the larger the discrepancy the greater the degree of body dissatisfaction." Many different outlets can contribute to ones body dissatisfaction. The media, magazines, celebrities, as well as the internet. Seeing images of really skinny models laughing and surrounded by other good looking people is enough to drive people to seek perfect bodies. It is important for individuals to feel comfortable in their own skin, and gain control of their impulses because body dissatisfaction can lead to worse things such as eating disorders. Don't become a victim of the advertisements and the thin people that you see on the internet.
Niide et. al. (2011), classifies body dissatisfaction as, "The difference between one's perceived body size and shape and one's ideal body; the larger the discrepancy the greater the degree of body dissatisfaction." Many different outlets can contribute to ones body dissatisfaction. The media, magazines, celebrities, as well as the internet. Seeing images of really skinny models laughing and surrounded by other good looking people is enough to drive people to seek perfect bodies. It is important for individuals to feel comfortable in their own skin, and gain control of their impulses because body dissatisfaction can lead to worse things such as eating disorders. Don't become a victim of the advertisements and the thin people that you see on the internet.
What is an Eating Disorder? An eating disorder is characterized as a drastic change in one's everyday diet. As a result of this disorder, people can binge, purge, binge and purge, restrict food intake, excessively exercise, or abuse laxatives. There are several types, including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Compulsive eating disorder, Binge eating disorder, and Obesity. For more information about the types of Eating Disorders, visit http://www.eatingdisorderfoundation.org/EatingDisorders.htm. |
The Internet
You will discover on this site that the internet correlates with body satisfaction and development of disordered eating. We can look at the findings of Morris (2010) that social media sites provoke thinness on their social networking sites and Pro-Anorexia Websites which thus, encourages those to question their appearance. Morris (2010) derived research from Foster (2008) on the discussion of Facebook allowing businesses to put their advertisements on their site so they can target their ideal population: young females. These ads promote thinness and associating it with beauty by putting undesirable mottos on their ads. What the rest of the cited researchers suggest along with the ones previously mentioned, is that images and appearances on the internet impact women's satisfaction of their bodies in negative ways. In relation to sites that provoke eating disorders, research such as Harper, Sperry, & Thompson (2008) increase body dissatisfaction among viewers as well.
You will discover on this site that the internet correlates with body satisfaction and development of disordered eating. We can look at the findings of Morris (2010) that social media sites provoke thinness on their social networking sites and Pro-Anorexia Websites which thus, encourages those to question their appearance. Morris (2010) derived research from Foster (2008) on the discussion of Facebook allowing businesses to put their advertisements on their site so they can target their ideal population: young females. These ads promote thinness and associating it with beauty by putting undesirable mottos on their ads. What the rest of the cited researchers suggest along with the ones previously mentioned, is that images and appearances on the internet impact women's satisfaction of their bodies in negative ways. In relation to sites that provoke eating disorders, research such as Harper, Sperry, & Thompson (2008) increase body dissatisfaction among viewers as well.