THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS ON THE (DIS)SATISFACTION OF BODY IMAGE IN ADOLESCENCE

Abstract

After the globalization process, contemporary society lives the digital age and, in this context, social media and the use of social networks gain strength. Nowadays, teenagers represent the biggest enthusiasts of social media and social networks. In this perspective, the media disseminate information that can have a significant influence on body image and (dis)satisfaction with the body among young people. This article is a literature review and aimed to verify the influence of social media and the use of social networks on (dis)satisfaction with body image in adolescence. It was found that because they are a more vulnerable and intensely consuming audience, adolescents are greatly influenced by social media and social networks. Because they disseminate information that can exert a significant influence in the search for a perfect body and adequate to the standards, these social media represent a risk for the adolescents' body image.