Morris (2010) explored the ways internet affects young adults particularly. With young adults exposed to Facebook and other social networking sites, it allows businesses to use these sites as ways to promote and advertise their products such as diet drugs and clothing. Morris (2010) stated that most users of Facebook and who are exposed to these advertisements are young people between the ages of 17 to 25, which happens to be the same age range for developing eating disorders. Specifically, she mentions in her article that not only does Facebook have advertisements, but they have advertisements regarding to specific demographics the user shares. For instance, Foster (2008) makes the statement, "Women who are listed as engaged see an advertisement asking the question if they want to be a fat bride."
Morris (2010) in her research, also found that adolescents and young adults who are trying to develop self-discovery, will be detrimental when posting pictures that others can view publicly. Viewing photos of oneself for the larger population to see and comment on, can hurt one's body image perceptions.
Morris (2010) also stated that the ages are getting younger and younger where girls as young as nine and ten are posting provocative photographs of themselves on these social networking sites. These pictures can lead to inappropriate and potentially hurtful comments made from peers, the research suggests.
Foster (2008) stated that such dieting advertisements were constantly being exposed to young female demographics so much that Facebook had complaints from its users. Eventually, Facebook no longer allowed advertisements to come off negative, such as an advertisement on Facebook that promoted the "Supermodel Diet" to young females. However, it would cost the social networking site too much money to completely abandon diet ads or any type of body enhancing ad. "This is just one of many examples of how Facebook preys on the vulnerability of its female users, placing their business before the well being of their subscribers."
Harper, Sperry, & Thompson (2008) studied 1575 college women pursuing bachelor's degrees and viewing three sites about eating disorders. The sites were different in regards to the content. One site gave educational and informative facts about eating disorders, another was about personal recovery stories and raising awareness, and the final site was promoting having the eating disorder. The control group was not exposed to any form of an eating disorder site. Harper et al., (2008) found that the undergraduate women who had been to the site that provoked eating disorders and encouraged it, had suffered much more body dissatisfaction.
Bair, Kelly, Serdar, & Mazzeo (2012) studied undergraduate women and their body satisfaction as well as their frequency of using the internet for going on either celebrity/entertainment sites, fashion sites, or health/fitness sites (Image-focused media). They also assessed the women on frequency of using the internet as opposed to television and magazines which are also Image-focused. Bair et al., (2012) found significance in internet exposure that showed thin images. There was also a significance with body dissatisfaction and image exposure on the internet mainly of images that promoted thinness in women. Bair et al., (2012) suggests that woman who are exposed to online images of thinness and seek such desirability, will more likely experience body dissatisfaction.
Tiggemann & Miller (2010) found similar results to Bair et al., (2012). Tiggemann & Miller (2010) researched 156 Australian, female, high school students roughly around the age of 15. When the females viewed that exposure to appearance on the internet correlated with higher desire to be thin, comparing one's appearance to the internet appearance images, and higher weight dissatisfaction of one's self. This research suggests that online exposure to thinness and appearance ideals lowers body satisfaction.
If we compare the findings of Bair et al., (2012) and Tiggemann & Miller (2010), the demographics may have been slightly different as far as age and nationality, however the results were similar. Young females experienced body dissatisfaction when exposed to the online images as opposed to just watching television images.
The desire to be thin plays a role with Morris (2010) ,Foster (2008), and Harper et al., (2008) talking about how social networks can play a part whether it's Facebook and its willingness to allow advertisements to target their desired audiences, or a Pro-Anorexia site that encourages eating disorders.
Therefore, body dissatisfaction frequently occurs in young women who seek to be thin from what the research suggests. However, the criteria in all of this research suggests that those who have body images issues will most likely be affected by the internet media whether through appearance images, pro eating disorder sites, or dieting ads on Facebook. So anyone can be affected.
Morris (2010) in her research, also found that adolescents and young adults who are trying to develop self-discovery, will be detrimental when posting pictures that others can view publicly. Viewing photos of oneself for the larger population to see and comment on, can hurt one's body image perceptions.
Morris (2010) also stated that the ages are getting younger and younger where girls as young as nine and ten are posting provocative photographs of themselves on these social networking sites. These pictures can lead to inappropriate and potentially hurtful comments made from peers, the research suggests.
Foster (2008) stated that such dieting advertisements were constantly being exposed to young female demographics so much that Facebook had complaints from its users. Eventually, Facebook no longer allowed advertisements to come off negative, such as an advertisement on Facebook that promoted the "Supermodel Diet" to young females. However, it would cost the social networking site too much money to completely abandon diet ads or any type of body enhancing ad. "This is just one of many examples of how Facebook preys on the vulnerability of its female users, placing their business before the well being of their subscribers."
Harper, Sperry, & Thompson (2008) studied 1575 college women pursuing bachelor's degrees and viewing three sites about eating disorders. The sites were different in regards to the content. One site gave educational and informative facts about eating disorders, another was about personal recovery stories and raising awareness, and the final site was promoting having the eating disorder. The control group was not exposed to any form of an eating disorder site. Harper et al., (2008) found that the undergraduate women who had been to the site that provoked eating disorders and encouraged it, had suffered much more body dissatisfaction.
Bair, Kelly, Serdar, & Mazzeo (2012) studied undergraduate women and their body satisfaction as well as their frequency of using the internet for going on either celebrity/entertainment sites, fashion sites, or health/fitness sites (Image-focused media). They also assessed the women on frequency of using the internet as opposed to television and magazines which are also Image-focused. Bair et al., (2012) found significance in internet exposure that showed thin images. There was also a significance with body dissatisfaction and image exposure on the internet mainly of images that promoted thinness in women. Bair et al., (2012) suggests that woman who are exposed to online images of thinness and seek such desirability, will more likely experience body dissatisfaction.
Tiggemann & Miller (2010) found similar results to Bair et al., (2012). Tiggemann & Miller (2010) researched 156 Australian, female, high school students roughly around the age of 15. When the females viewed that exposure to appearance on the internet correlated with higher desire to be thin, comparing one's appearance to the internet appearance images, and higher weight dissatisfaction of one's self. This research suggests that online exposure to thinness and appearance ideals lowers body satisfaction.
If we compare the findings of Bair et al., (2012) and Tiggemann & Miller (2010), the demographics may have been slightly different as far as age and nationality, however the results were similar. Young females experienced body dissatisfaction when exposed to the online images as opposed to just watching television images.
The desire to be thin plays a role with Morris (2010) ,Foster (2008), and Harper et al., (2008) talking about how social networks can play a part whether it's Facebook and its willingness to allow advertisements to target their desired audiences, or a Pro-Anorexia site that encourages eating disorders.
Therefore, body dissatisfaction frequently occurs in young women who seek to be thin from what the research suggests. However, the criteria in all of this research suggests that those who have body images issues will most likely be affected by the internet media whether through appearance images, pro eating disorder sites, or dieting ads on Facebook. So anyone can be affected.