Research Proposal: The Impact of Social Media Platforms on Body Image and Self-Esteem Among Adolescents

 

1. Introduction
Adolescence is a critical period for identity formation, making young people particularly vulnerable to social media’s influence on body image and self-esteem. With 90% of teens using social media daily (Pew Research Center, 2023), platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat promote idealized beauty standards through curated content, filters, and influencer culture. This study examines how different types of social media engagement (e.g., passive scrolling vs. active posting) affect body satisfaction and self-worth among adolescents, while exploring protective factors that may mitigate harm.

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2. Research Objectives

1. To analyze how exposure to idealized body content on social media correlates with body dissatisfaction.

2. To compare impacts across platforms (e.g., image-focused Instagram vs. video-based TikTok).

3. To identify differences by gender, sexual orientation, and cultural background.

4. To investigate protective behaviors (e.g., critical media literacy, body-positive content).

5. To propose interventions for parents, educators, and platform designers.

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3. Literature Review

Existing research highlights:

• Negative Effects:

  • Internalization of thin/muscular ideals (Fardouly et al., 2015)

  • Social comparison triggering low self-esteem (Festinger, 1954)

  • "Snapchat Dysmorphia" from augmented reality filters (Rajanala et al., 2018)

• Positive Effects:

  • Body-positive communities boosting self-acceptance (Cohen et al., 2021)

  • LGBTQ+ youth finding identity-affirming spaces (Craig et al., 2021)

• Gaps:

  • Long-term effects of short-form video platforms (e.g., TikTok)

  • Role of algorithm-driven content in exacerbating or mitigating harm

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4. Methodology

Design: Mixed-methods sequential explanatory design.

Participants:

• 500 adolescents aged 13–18 (stratified by gender, race, and platform usage).

• Recruited via schools and youth organizations.

Quantitative Phase:

• Survey measures:

  • Body Esteem Scale (Mendelson et al., 2001)

  • Social Media Use Integration Scale (Jenkins-Guarnieri et al., 2013)

  • Self-reported time spent on platforms.

Qualitative Phase:

• Focus groups (n=30): Explore lived experiences.

• Content analysis: 100 posts tagged #bodyimage to identify prevalent themes.

Data Analysis:

• Correlational analysis (SPSS).

• Thematic coding (NVivo).

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5. Expected Challenges

• Ethical concerns: Discussing sensitive topics with minors.

• Self-report bias: Underreporting of unhealthy behaviors.

• Rapidly evolving platforms: Findings may require quick dissemination.

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6. Significance

This study will:

• Inform mental health interventions for at-risk youth.

• Guide policy recommendations for safer platform designs (e.g., warning labels on edited images).

• Contribute to media literacy programs in schools.

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7. Ethical Considerations

• Parental consent and minor assent.

• Resources for participants reporting distress.

• Anonymization of social media content.

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8. Timeline

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Phase	Duration
Literature review & IRB approval	2 months
Survey distribution	3 months
Focus groups & content analysis	4 months