SOCIAL MEDIA VS BODY IMAGE

Social Media and Body image….

Hi, this is going to be a rather informal piece that is primarily based on my opinions and experience with this topic. For starters, I would like to touch on social media. I, like many others, do post a lot of “exposing” or “self-centred” photos as some like to say. For me personally, this is not to sell or try and sexualise myself in any way. What I post on my social media is more of a photo album for myself to remind me of certain aspects of my life that you cant see through just a photo. When I post pictures of me in a bikini for example (well I live in one so it's hard to get pictures of me not in one) I'm not putting myself out there for people to judge it. Instead, I'm proud I can post these kinds of pictures confidently as I have come such a long way since my anorexia and feel confident in my body not giving a fuck what anybody else thinks. When I see other girls post pictures of there body on Instagram no matter who it is, I am proud. Whether they worked hard in the gym for there bodies or were just feeling confident that day. Good on them. As everyone’s bodies, in all shapes and sizes are beautiful.

Albeit this I do believe social media can be harmful to body image in many different ways. It is one of the things that drove me to keep losing weight. When you see a model..(girl or boy or other, sorry trying not to exclude) its normal to think “wow, I wish my body looked like that”. Sure you can think that but when you start pushing yourself and striving for that exact body is when things can go south very quickly. Everyone's bodies are made differently and even if you lost all the weight and went to the gym constantly you may still not look the way you are striving for. This was something I did. I would see all these gorgeous girls on Instagram and Facebook and want the slim waist they had. I would lose weight and do “slimming waist” exercises. Yet I can’t make my ribs smaller..found that one out the hard way. So the biggest thing I would recommend is sure you can look at these people for motivation to get active and healthy. Yet whatever you do, DON’T FIXATE on getting that exact body..cause I hate to break it to you most of the time it won't be achievable.

The other issue I find with social media that can absolutely terminate a persons body image and self-esteem is inappropriately commenting or talking shit about what they post. This happened to me a few years back me and my friends had posted beach pictures and someone went on there Instagram to talk shit about it. There were a lot of comments on that post that were rather mean and hurtful. I was already going through a lot of personal things in my life at the time and those comments destroyed me. I was unable to get out of bed for days and deleted the photos off my Instagram. Looking back on it, I don’t care anymore as I'm going to post what I want as it is my visual diary and if you don’t want to see it. Well, unfollow. As I've learnt to not care, but not everyone has, so you need to be mindful and I am not asking for hurtful comments as I'll still probably get cut. I've also seen some harsh comment on other girls photos saying that they don’t look good in this photo or trying to start banter with them. Which I'm all for (the banter that is) as long as your close with them or know for a fact they will find it funny. Basically, the conclusion of this part is to be careful what you post and say about other peoples photos as although, you mean no harm, it can really stick with a person and make them feel shit about themselves. It has on a more serious note driven to self-harm and suicide in some cases.

Okay, this one here might be a tad controversial but once again it is just my opinion. If you know someone is struggling with an eating disorder or have noticeably become unhealthy skinny. Commenting on their body pictures “wow you look amazing “ or “I'm jealous” isn’t beneficial. Although yes people lose weight and some people are naturally skinny, so this is a tough one. But if you do know they are struggling maybe refrain from commenting on their pictures telling them how amazing they look and instead reach out to them personally to see how they are doing. Or comment something not focussing on their body. Cause personally when people would comment how skinny I was in the past when I was ill, it only drove me to keep going as a positive reaction to losing extreme weight unhealthily was a signal it was working and to keep it up.

Basically, in conclusion, social media isn’t that bad in my eyes and I do use it a lot. Yet the mindset you have when using it and how you use it can be absolutely terrible. I wish I lived in time it didn’t exist but it does, so I make the most of it. As it allows you to connect with friends and family wherever they may be and keep updated on what they are doing. You can get outfit ideas, and post pictures of yourself where you feel good. Although this is how I use it and maybe helpful for others… I don’t know. Take the advice if you want it.

Don’t give a fuck. If you want to post something post it. If people talk shit well don’t think/care about it (I struggle with this) as it's your choice what you do and everyone really shouldn’t be focussing on you. Be careful what you post and say about people as it may not mean much to you but can mean a tremendous amount to them. If you don’t like what someone is posting simply unfollow…. BE SAFE. There are a lot of weirdos out there so be careful who you talk to. Anyway, that’s all I have to say on this informal piece. PEACE OUT.