Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Impact of Modern Social Media on Women’s Appearance Anxiety

Qian XuMinhang Crosspoint High School*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

In recent years, the rapid expansion of modern social media platforms has profoundly reshaped how individuals perceive and evaluate physical appearance. This paper examines the influence of social media on women’s appearance anxiety, defined as persistent worry or dissatisfaction about one’s physical appearance, often linked to psychological distress. The research aims to investigate how digital environments contribute to heightened beauty-related concerns and the underlying mechanisms that exacerbate these anxieties. Using a combined approach of literature analysis and case study examination, the paper synthesizes existing empirical evidence and analyzes real-world examples from widely used platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. The findings reveal that the highly visual nature of social media, coupled with algorithm-driven content distribution, intensifies exposure to idealized beauty standards and promotes continuous comparison with peers. This contributes to the increased self-awareness and bodily image insecurity women experience. Recommendations incorporate media literacy education, regulation on platform design, and the promotion of campaigns to product diversity and authentic representations of beauty.

Keywords: social media; appearance anxiety; women; body image
Published: September 16, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.BJ27000
Volume: CHR Vol.77
pp. 48-52
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