Filters, Fitness, and False Ideals

 By: Maya Traska

Social media has a big influence on health and fitness; it offers inspiration and motivation, while for others, it creates pressure, comparison, and unrealistic body standards.

According to the National Institute of Health, “poor-quality information can lead followers to engage in harmful exercise and health practices.”

Dana Benger, a personal trainer with over 10 years in the field, said that she has “truthfully seen both sides” of social media’s impact. 

“On one hand, social media can be an unrealistic representation of what someone looks like, especially in the age of photo editing and Photoshop software being so user-friendly,” said Dana Benger

One in three people is online trying unrealistic fitness trends that they are told will work; this can lead some to feel discouraged or to set unrealistic body standards for themselves. 

PubMed Central reported that exposure to misleading or idealized fitness content is associated with increased body dissatisfaction and unhealthy exercise behaviors.

“I’ve compared myself to many people online, but I also try to remind myself that so many things are manipulated online and I’m not always seeing something authentic online,” said Sierra Benger, whose main form of social media is Instagram.

While social media has negatively impacted some people, others believe social media has helped them feel more comfortable in who they are. Benger said that she sees the unhealthy side of comparison “most predominantly in the younger population, teenagers to early 20s,”

Platforms like Instagram and Facebook work through #fitspiration, peer support, and online communities, sharing journeys, and increasing exercise accountability.

This gives people a sense of community and a desire to continue their journey while following online personals.

“It’s motivating to see people who are similar to me or who have body types like mine who are also attempting to achieve the same goals that I wanna achieve,” Sierra Benger said.

With people seeing all these health trends, it makes them want to follow them even if they are not 100% true.

Maggie Grise said she sees people eating specific things and says how much it will benefit others if they do too.

“When at home or even in college, I make sure to eat carrots because online, one time I saw a girl and she said that eating carrots is supposed to help your health,” Grise said.

Like Grise, many people follow these diets that are said by non-professionals to be good for their mind and body.