The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Media Usage and Body Image Perceptions in Young Adults

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic resulted in wholly unprecedented shifts in daily life and routine. This included more individuals working from home, utilizing video chatting software daily, and increased social media usage (SMU) during lockdowns. SMU has consistently been shown to increase during crises. Social media and video chat usage are on the rise, but many do not acknowledge the negative impacts of high usage. However, high SMU has been associated with negative body image perception and reduced self-confidence. It has also been associated with the development of other disordered behaviors and conditions such as eating disorders and anxiety. Through a comprehensive literature review of recently published studies, there appears to be a strong association between young adults who increased their SMU during the pandemic and suffered from a negative body image perception and reduced self-confidence. As an example, adding more body-positive programming aimed at improving body image perceptions and self-confidence will likely contribute to a reduced chance of developing associated behaviors. Furthermore, mitigation strategies such as mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, and dialectical thinking should be encouraged and widely accessible in the United States regardless of insurance coverage. However, further research will be needed to determine if these effects will persist post-pandemic and which mitigation strategies are most effective.