#SocialMedia: Exploring the Associations of Social Networking Sites and Body Image, Self-Esteem, Disordered Eating and/or Eating Disorders and the Impact of a Media Literacy Intervention

The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between SNSs and body image (BI), self-esteem (SE), and eating behaviours (EBs)/eating disorders (EDs) (Study A) and to evaluate the impact of a media literacy intervention (Study B). A sample of young adults (N = 160) completed Study A and then were randomly assigned to a control or intervention group (Study B). A follow-up survey was completed (n = 78) one month after the intervention. Study A revealed that females and males spent 4.1±5.3 and 2.9±2.8 hours on SNS, respectively; with the majority of time spent lurking (i.e., looking at another users’ profile but not actually communicating with them). Furthermore, SNSs may impact internalization of beauty standards, SE, and EBs/EDs. The media literacy intervention was successful in decreasing ED symptoms/concerns. Therefore, educational tools, should be created to teach of the possible negative implications SNS usage can have