SOCIAL MEDIA'S IMPACT ON MALE PHYSICAL SELF-PERCEPTION AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO TOXIC MASCULINITY WITHIN FITNESS CULTURE

Abstract

This study seeks to demonstrate how image-based social media platforms affect the way young men perceive their physical appearance, athletic performance, and sense of manhood. It argues that the favoritization of able-bodied, lean, and athletic body types predispose young adult men – who make up the majority of male users on these platforms – to disordered eating and exercise behaviors, as well as eliciting use of supplement overconsumption and performance enhancing drugs. Through an anonymous survey, participants recruited from social media postings, on sites such as Instagram and Twitter, submitted responses to nineteen (19) questions assessing their age, activity level, primary form of training, and social media usage etc. Data from this research suggests that body dissatisfaction as a result of online social-media presence culminates in an overall contribution to body image, eating issues, and health endangering disordered behaviors. Data collected indicated that social media has a significant impact on male physical self-perception and appearance satisfaction, and reflected a significant correlation between social media usage and the desire amongst men for a muscular i.e lean physique. However, the study did not find significant correlation to social media usage and the consumption of performance enhancing drugs. Responses also indicated that social media consumption has produced a desire for improved performance and improved strength.