Digital Distortion: How Social Media Fuels Body Dysmorphia And Women Identity Struggles

Abstract

Social media has emerged as a potent force in the construction and deconstruction of female identity, wielding considerable influence over body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This paper critically examines the pervasive impact of social media platforms in exacerbating and perpetuating BDD among women. Through relentless exposure to idealized and digitally altered images, social media not only distorts perceptions of physical appearance but also catalyzes a toxic culture of comparison and self-loathing. The study reveals how platforms’ algorithms perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards and facilitate the proliferation of harmful content, fostering an environment where women’s self-worth becomes inextricably linked to unattainable physical ideals. This analysis underscores the urgent need for interventions to mitigate social media’s role in reinforcing detrimental body image narratives and to promote a healthier, more authentic self-concept among women.