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How do social networks put pressure on body image,

aesthetics, social standards?


1. How do social networks put pressure on body image, aesthetics, social
standards? (Phương Thảo)
Social networks today are playing an important role in shaping concepts of
beauty and aesthetic standards. Unrealistic images of the body on social
networks can create pressure and have a negative impact on the psychology and
mental state of the user. Constantly comparing yourself to these impossible
standards can lead to low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with your body, even
negative effects on your diet.
In addition, social networks are a potential environment for online bullying.
Users can become the subject of attacks based on body size, shape, or
appearance, causing major negative impacts on their body image and self-
esteem. This poses the challenge of creating a safe and positive social media
environment where people can interact without worrying about judgment or
harassment based on appearance.
2. Is social media influencing standards of beauty, self-identity, and does it
make people focus on physical appearance, above other things? (Tuấn
Anh)
Yes, social media does have a significant influence on standards of beauty,
self-identity, and can make people focus more on physical appearance.
Influence on Beauty Standards
Social media platforms often feature images of people with seemingly perfect
faces and bodies, often using filters and photo editing tools to enhance their
appearance.This can create unrealistic beauty standards, leading to body
dissatisfaction and low self-esteem in both women and men
(Social Media and Body Image: What's the Link? (psychcentral.com))
A report by the Dove Self-Esteem Project revealed that 1 in 2 girls say toxic
beauty advice on social media causes low self-esteem.
(Dove is a well-known brand in the personal care industry and has had many
studies on self-esteem and body image.
The Dove Self-Esteem Project can provide insight into how unrealistic beauty
standards on social media affect viewers' psychology and mood.
)
(Toxic beauty standards on social media: The stats (dove.com))
Influence on Self-Identity
According to an article in The New Yorker, social media has a profound effect
on the development of identity. It states that for those who have grown up with
social media, childhood is surprisingly accessible. This accessibility is certain
to have some kind of profound effect on the development of identity
(How Social Media Shapes Our Identity | The New Yorker)
An article from Northwestern University discusses how sites like Facebook and
LinkedIn become increasingly integrated in our social and professional lives,
differences between our “real” and online identities can shape not only how
others perceive us but our self-perceptions, creating pressure to be more like
the often idealized digital versions of ourselves and our peers.
(The Self in Selfie: Identity in the Age of Social Media | Northwestern Center
for Talent Development)
(Profound Influence on Identity Development:

The New Yorker mentions the easy access to social media in childhood and
asserts that this certainly has a profound influence on the development of an
individual's identity.
If there is specific information or examples of how social media influences
identity development, it will make the argument stronger.
"Real" Identity and Online Identity:

The article from Northwestern University highlights the growing integration


between social sites and social lives and careers.
This creates an ambiguity between our "real" identity and our online identity,
which can impact not only how others perceive us but also how we perceive
ourselves.
High Pressure:

If the Northwestern University article mentions that online identities are often
idealized and create greater pressure on the self, this could connect to the
notion of negative effects on personal identity. core.
)
Focus on Physical Appearance

Social media can affect a teen’s self-esteem by changing their entire style such
as clothes, music, and personality and even change what kind of friends they
have.
These conflicts that teens deal with throughout the social media world can
create a massive amount of depression as teens struggle to be socially
“accepted”.
Social media can harm your body image. Filters and editing can lead to low
self-esteem, depression and even body dysmorphic disorder.
It’s important to note that while social media can have these effects, it also
provides a platform for body positivity, community support, and health and
fitness inspiration1. The impact of social media can be both positive and
negative, and it often depends on how it’s used. People should pay attention to
the content they consume and the impact it has on their self-perception.
(The Register | Social media affects teens’ self-esteem, personal identity
(omahacentralregister.com))

3. Is the effect of social media on those things generally negative, or positive?


(Trần Phát)

4. Social media's pervasive negative influence manifests in various facets of


modern life. Its algorithm-driven content often fosters an echo chamber
effect, reinforcing biases and polarizing viewpoints. This leads to societal
fragmentation, hindering constructive dialogue and fostering division
among communities.
5.
6. Additionally, the relentless pursuit of validation through likes, shares, and
comments has contributed to a culture of validation-seeking behavior.
Users often measure their worth based on online engagement, leading to a
fragile sense of self-esteem and self-worth tied to digital metrics.
7.
8. The curated portrayal of seemingly perfect lives on social platforms
engenders a phenomenon known as "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out),
intensifying feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Constant exposure to
carefully crafted content can distort reality, leading to unrealistic
expectations and dissatisfaction with one's own life.
9.
10. Cyberbullying and harassment have also proliferated through these
platforms, causing emotional distress and sometimes even severe
psychological trauma. The anonymity and distance afforded by social
media often embolden individuals to engage in behavior they wouldn't
exhibit in face-to-face interactions.
11.
12. Lastly, the commodification of attention has resulted in addictive
behaviors. Endless scrolling, notification-driven dopamine hits, and the
constant urge to stay connected have contributed to a decline in mental
focus, productivity, and overall well-being.
13.
14. In aggregate, these negative aspects underscore the imperative for
responsible and mindful social media usage to mitigate their detrimental
impact on individuals and society.
15. Social media's pervasive negative influence manifests in various facets of
modern life. Its algorithm-driven content often fosters an echo chamber
effect, reinforcing biases and polarizing viewpoints. This leads to societal
fragmentation, hindering constructive dialogue and fostering division
among communities.
16.
17. Additionally, the relentless pursuit of validation through likes, shares, and
comments has contributed to a culture of validation-seeking behavior.
Users often measure their worth based on online engagement, leading to a
fragile sense of self-esteem and self-worth tied to digital metrics.
18.
19. The curated portrayal of seemingly perfect lives on social platforms
engenders a phenomenon known as "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out),
intensifying feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Constant exposure to
carefully crafted content can distort reality, leading to unrealistic
expectations and dissatisfaction with one's own life.
20.
21. Cyberbullying and harassment have also proliferated through these
platforms, causing emotional distress and sometimes even severe
psychological trauma. The anonymity and distance afforded by social
media often embolden individuals to engage in behavior they wouldn't
exhibit in face-to-face interactions.
22.
23. Lastly, the commodification of attention has resulted in addictive
behaviors. Endless scrolling, notification-driven dopamine hits, and the
constant urge to stay connected have contributed to a decline in mental
focus, productivity, and overall well-being.
24.
25. In aggregate, these negative aspects underscore the imperative for
responsible and mindful social media usage to mitigate their detrimental
impact on individuals and society.
26. What about the future, what effect will social media have on our ideas
about beauty, what we should value? (Thành Lưu)
Social media has a powerful influence on how we perceive ourselves and others,
especially when it comes to beauty and appearance. On one hand, social media can be
a source of inspiration, empowerment, and diversity, where people can express
themselves and find communities that celebrate different forms of beauty. On the
other hand, social media can also create unrealistic and harmful beauty standards,
where people feel pressured to conform to a narrow and idealized image of beauty,
often enhanced by filters and editing tools.
The future of social media and beauty is likely to depend on how we use these
platforms and how we cope with the potential negative effects. Some possible ways to
foster a more positive and healthy relationship with social media and beauty are:
Being mindful of how much time we spend on social media and how it affects our
mood and self-esteem. We can limit our exposure to content that makes us feel bad
about ourselves and seek out content that uplifts and inspires us.
● Being critical of the images we see on social media and remembering that they
are not always realistic or representative of the whole person. We can also
question the messages and values that are promoted by these images and
whether they align with our own.
● Being supportive and respectful of others and ourselves on social media and
avoiding cyberbullying, body shaming, or comparison. We can also use social
media to spread positivity and kindness and to celebrate diversity and
individuality.
● Being aware of our own body image and how it affects our well-being. We can
practice self-care and self-compassion and seek professional help if we struggle
with body image issues or eating disorders.
Social media and beauty are not inherently good or bad, but rather depend on how we
interact with them and how we view ourselves. The future of social media and beauty
is in our hands, and we can use it to create a more inclusive and empowering culture
of beauty.

27. Measures to reduce the negative impact and risk of social network abuse?
(Kim Ngân)
There are several measures that can be taken to reduce the negative impact and risk of
social network abuse. Here are some suggestions:

1. Education and awareness: Promote digital literacy and educate users about the
potential risks and consequences of social network abuse. Teach users how to identify
and report abusive behavior.
2. Stronger privacy settings: Social networks should provide robust privacy settings
that allow users to control who can view their content and interact with them.
Encourage users to regularly review and update their privacy settings.
3. Reporting mechanisms: Implement effective reporting mechanisms that allow users
to report abusive content or behavior. Social networks should have dedicated teams to
review and take action on reported content promptly.
4. User moderation: Empower users to moderate their own social media spaces by
giving them tools to block or mute abusive accounts and filter out unwanted content.
5. Algorithmic moderation: Develop and improve algorithms that can automatically
detect and remove abusive content, hate speech, and harassment. Continuously refine
these algorithms to minimize false positives and negatives.
6. Collaboration with authorities: Social networks should collaborate with law
enforcement agencies to identify and take action against individuals involved in
serious cases of social network abuse, such as cyberbullying or online harassment.
7. User support and counseling: Provide resources and support for users who have
experienced social network abuse, including access to counseling services or
helplines.
8. Digital well-being features: Introduce features that promote healthy online habits,
such as reminders to take breaks, limit screen time, and encourage positive
interactions.
9. Transparent policies: Social networks should have clear and transparent policies
regarding acceptable behavior, content guidelines, and consequences for violating
these policies. Communicate these policies effectively to users.
10. Continuous improvement: Regularly review and update safety measures based on
user feedback, emerging trends, and technological advancements to stay ahead of
potential risks and challenges.

Remember, addressing social network abuse requires a collective effort from social
media platforms, users, and society as a whole.

28. Will social media abuse change the way we interact, communicate in
society, specifically? (Nhi Nguyễn)
Social networks have caused significant changes in the way we interact and
communicate information in society. Here are some specific examples:

1. Communicate effectively and quickly: Social networks help us easily communicate


with others remotely with just a few clicks and at the same time receive feedback
quickly . Communication becomes faster and more convenient, there is no longer any
need to wait like when sending traditional mail. 2. The promotion of the need to share
and connect: Social networks have increased the need to share personal stories. Every
day, hundreds of millions of photos are posted on Facebook, providing the ability to
follow your friends' daily activities without having to meet them in person.

3. Simplified feedback opportunities: Social media provides opportunities to simplify


the feedback process. For example, on Facebook, dropping a "like" or reaction on a
post is an easy way to express feedback.

4. Reduce face-to-face interaction: Overuse of social networks can lead to a decrease


in face-to-face interaction and increase the "virtualization" of life. People often spend
a lot of time on social networks, reducing time interacting with the world around
them. In total, social networks have dramatically changed the way we communicate. It
brings convenience and speed in communication, but at the same time has
consequences such as reducing face-to-face interaction and increasing "virtual" life.

The greatest benefit that social network brings to humanity is:


Connect different individuals from different locations, locations, and
regions.Diversify relationships, optimize time, and reach out to many people at the
same time.

Easily archives and share conversation/message content. Multiple communication and


feedback methods: posts, status, stories, scrolls, reactions, etc.

Using reactions and emojis too much leads to difficulty in using facial muscles to
express when meeting face to face, hindering language. Lack of body language,
unable to see facial expressions . Fear of face to face when communicating, reducing
flexibility in speech For example: spending too much time on social media and
focusing too much on images and life on social media, causing people to lose interest
to people around (friends, relatives, colleagues). (Journal of Research on
Adolescence)

https://amp.dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/mang-xa-hoi-can-tro-kha-nang-giao-tiep-cua-
thieu-nien-2016071916305363.htm

29. Conclusion

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