Media's Influence On Teenage Body Image

Do you ever see slim models with perfect skin and hair? Do you strive to be like them? Well the reality is, that model is not really that skinny and doesn't have perfect skin and hair. The model is photoshopped to make her skin and hair look flawless while looking extremely thin, this is not realistic or healthy for anyone. Statistics show that “Adolescent girls are more afraid of gaining weight than getting cancer, losing their parents or nuclear war” (Gorga 6). Body image is a controversial topic that is having a great impact on teens, specifically as they are in a growing and idle time of their life. The opposition believes that the media can help with teens struggling with a negative body image. As the years go on the obesity rate is increasing and the amount of ads that are showing unrealistic models …show more content…
Popular public figures can be body shaming or become a victim of body shame. Either way these people are setting examples to very influential teenagers about body image. Their opinions and stories are all broadcasted through the media making them very instant and powerful. Favored public figures have an affect on teen body image through the media. Teenagers are turning to cosmetic surgery and photoshopping apps to improve their body image because of what they see in the media. Teenagers are skipping meals and wearing baggy clothes to hide their shape. They are wearing excessive amounts of makeup and are using features on apps to slim their body size all the way down to half. Social media plays a vast role in body image influences "With social media, you lose control of your own image," he said. And in his practice, patients of all ages are coming in for social ­media inspired work” (Gorga 6). As social media has been on the rise so has the amount of plastic surgeries. Social media is having an significance