How does social media affect your mental health?

In 2019, a study conducted by healthcare institution, the Florida House Experience, found that 87% of women and 65% of men compare their bodies to images they consume on social and traditional media. In that comparison, 50% of women and 37% of men compared their bodies unfavourably to what they saw.

It is one of many different studies and publications that's looked at the impact of social media on different areas of our wellbeing, including body image. Having grown up with it though, and never known anything different, my own experience and that of my friends is one that isn't based on metrics, but on how we feel and what we do about it.

Social media and its influence on body image growing up?

I don't remember a time without social media. I have had Instagram since I was about 11 years old, so I have no comparison.

There was a time when it did impact my body confidence. I have used every platform available - I'm interested in it. I feel like the one that promoted the most negativity was Tumblr. Now, I think a lot depends on what you look for because the algorithm replicates that, but then, Tumblr would push what was most popular and there were some very dark things - promoting and romanticising being unhappy and unhealthy, for example.

At 15 I was a bit of a sponge and it really influenced my thinking. I remember being aware that my body was changing but didn't look like the ones I was being shown. I was growing and I didn’t look like the images that were presented to me, and at that time I did want to.

Has social media and body positivity changed?

I think now there's a lot more positive change that's been happening but I don't think it's quick enough. It could be my algorithm because I proactively seek positive content, but I think there are also more mixed bodies on social media. I think TikTok can be a really positive place at times, for example. There was a lovely speech from the actress Emma Thompson that went viral after she appeared on The Late Show, and I found that really inspiring. To this viral speech, people on TikTok, particularly other women, were showing off their bodies and "imperfections" to this sound, such as their cellulite and scars. This was empowering, not only to myself and other people my age, but for the younger generation that uses TikTok.

I remember as a teen I was very insecure about my arms, but at 22 I couldn't care less. I don't want to waste this time disliking my body. As long as I'm looking after myself, physically, mentally and spiritually, then that's all that matters.

I think one thing I've really realised is that someone can be at their healthiest and it doesn't necessarily reflect what's perceived as healthy in appearance. For example, I had surgery at the end of March which has impacted my lifestyle and right now, I'm probably the healthiest I've ever been. However, I don't have the most slim, toned body to reflect this, I am still plus size.

We have very particular ideas about what healthy should look like and that's not good. I remember seeing a plus size woman saying that if you saw a size 10 woman eating a salad you wouldn't think anything of it, but if you saw a plus size woman eating a salad you would think she's trying to be healthy and lose weight. We need to reevaluate what healthy looks like and realise it's different for different people. If we all had the same diet we wouldn't look the same anyway, our bodies are unique.

Choosing what to listen to

After spending half of my university experience feeling insecure in my own skin, I got so bored and tired of disliking it that I decided I couldn't be bothered anymore and wanted to start loving it. This is definitely easier said than done, but for me personally, I took a moment and realised that I don't want to spend the small time I have on this earth disliking my body. My body carries me through life, so why would I do it, and myself, a disservice by thinking or feeling badly about it? I have my father's eyes and my mother's smile - I don't want to hate the result of a combination of the two people I love so dearly.

Don't get me wrong, as much as I am comfortable in my own skin, there are some small positive changes I'm making physically, such as walking more and drinking more water etc. However, it's important to accept yourself before you start making these changes, so you can give yourself love and grace in the process.

My main takeaway in this journey of feeling more confident and empowered within myself is that, as cringy as it sounds, comparison is the thief of joy. A sunset is beautiful but so is falling snow. Just because one is beautiful, doesn't mean the other one can't be.

Social media can be a wonderful place, especially for an artist like myself, however, sometimes it can be a negative place full of expectations and false representations. It's important to be picky about the media you consume and to learn that not everything you see is how things should be.