Cross-generational Effects of Social Media on Body Image Perception

One of the consequences of the pandemic is that throughout 2020 virtual interactions largely replaced face-to-face interactions. Though there are few studies on how social media impacts body image perception across genders, research suggests that socializing through a virtual self-body image might have distinct implications for men and women. We examined whether type of social pressure and body-ideal (by administering the SATAQ-4R questionnaire) exert distinct pressures on members of the X, Y, and Z generations. Media pressure affected body image satisfaction significantly more than other kinds of social pressure across genders and generations, with young males reporting a higher impact compared to older males. Males experienced more pressure to be muscular and women to have a generally attractive body, especially for the younger generation. Future research should focus on social media as a potential intervention tool for the detection and prevention of body image disorders in both young female and male adults.