Media has always been a powerful influence on society's perceptions of beauty, gender roles, sexual activity, and idealized relationships. In today's world, young people are exposed to more media than ever before, often through social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. While these platforms can be helpful for connecting with friends and staying informed about current events, they also have a significant impact on adolescents' self-esteem, body image, and relational expectations. The rise of the "sexualization" of pop culture, particularly through celebrities and influencers who flaunt their bodies and engage in risky behavior online, has created unrealistic standards that many young adults struggle to meet. This article will explore how media-driven sexual ideals affect teens' body image, self-esteem, and relationship expectations and suggest ways parents, educators, and policymakers can help combat this trend.
Body Image
The way adolescents perceive their bodies is heavily influenced by what they see in the media. Media outlets constantly promote thinness as the ideal female body type, while men are expected to be muscular and physically active. These unattainable images lead many teenagers to feel dissatisfied with their own bodies and develop eating disorders or other harmful habits.
A study found that girls who viewed fashion magazines regularly were more likely to believe that being thin was important and were more prone to dieting, fasting, or purging than those who did not. Boys may also suffer from body image issues due to media exposure, especially if they do not fit into traditional masculine stereotypes. They may feel pressure to lift weights, participate in sports, or display aggressive behavior, which can lead to eating disorders, substance abuse, or other negative behaviors.
Self-Esteem
Media portrayals of sex and relationships often glorify promiscuity and objectify women, leading teenagers to have distorted views of intimacy. Teenage boys and girls may view themselves as objects rather than individuals with complex emotions and desires. This can lead to poor decision-making when it comes to dating, sexual activity, and relationships. Some young people may become desensitized to violence against women and become victims or perpetrators of abuse. Low self-esteem can also affect academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being. A study found that teenagers exposed to sexy advertising were less satisfied with their physical appearance, had lower self-esteem, and reported higher levels of depression.
Relational Expectations
The media's representation of idealized romantic partnerships also impacts adolescents' relational expectations. Young adults may believe that "true love" should be perfect, exclusive, and long-lasting. But these standards are unrealistic and can set them up for disappointment and heartbreak. Adolescents may feel pressured to settle down too early or engage in risky sexual behaviors that could have lasting consequences. They may even develop a fear of commitment if they do not meet the idealized standard. Media outlets often fail to acknowledge that relationships are messy, complicated, and sometimes end in breakups.
How do media-driven sexual ideals impact adolescents' self-esteem, body image, and relational expectations?
The media has a significant influence on young people's perception of themselves and their relationships with others. Adolescence is a stage when individuals are highly impressionable as they try to formulate an identity for themselves and discover who they are. This can be challenging because of social pressure from peers and the media that often portray unrealistic beauty standards and romantic relationships.