I know we live in a society of victims. Nobody is responsible for anything they do these days. If someone has a behavior that results in their life being unhappy, they are considered victims. (Sarcasm Alert) Why would anyone want to be responsible for their happiness? Why would anyone want to work hard to improve themselves? Being a victim is much easier and more popular. Nobody pays attention to people who are responsible. A victim gets attention while the person being responsible is ignored. Victims even have studies were done that validate their behavior. This way they can blame their eating disorders on social media sites and not on themselves.
This is an actual study. Below the study is in bold are my valuable insights in italics.
Facebook has become a global phenomenon and an active space for social comparison. With the increase in technology use, there is a positive correlation with decreased body image in young women. In a study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, 960 female college students were evaluated on the time they spend on social media sites, how important "likes" are, and whether or not they untag photos of themselves.
I wonder what colleges these female students were attending. It's a safe bet it wasn't a culinary school. If you speed an excessive amount of time on social media sites you're going to have a warped view of the world. It may even be understandable if you struggle being employed. In the realm of reality, people will let you know what they like. It takes more than clicking on a button. Maybe nobody told these young women that it's common to post a fake picture on Facebook.
"Over 95% of college women in our study use Facebook and those with Facebook accounts described typically spending 20 minutes on the site during each visit, amounting to over an hour on the site each day," said Dr. Pamela K. Keel
I wonder how much time the five percent who used other social sights spent there. Spending over an hour on Facebook each day translates into someone with too much time on their hands. Maybe they're actually spending time visiting sites dedicated food.
"In examining the immediate consequences of Facebook use, we found that 20 minutes of Facebook use contributed to the maintenance of higher weight and shape concerns and anxiety compared to a control internet condition. This the causal link is important because of anxiety and body image concerns both increase the risk for developing eating disorders," Keel stated.
If being on Facebook contributes to higher weight and shape concerns then maybe these girls shouldn't spend so much time on the internet. Could they spend this amount of time exercising combined rather than being on Facebook? This may decrease the incidents of higher weight and shape concerns. (Sarcasm Alert) I don't think this idea will ever be popular. This would require self-control, maturity as well as a young woman being responsible for herself. Why do that when you can easily do nothing and blame your poor body image on Facebook?
Although it is the main cause of the issue, Facebook could possibly become a maintenance factor for prevention programs. The main objective is to encourage women to develop a better self-image and practice responsible use of social media sites.
How about a program that teaches young women to not be bothered by what happens on Facebook? I know this is a radical idea. Imagine young women ignoring what happens on Facebook and not being influenced by it. That could change the world. Should this happen people who do meaningless studies may experience a decrease in work.
"Facebook merges powerful peer influences with broader societal messages that focus on the importance of woman’s appearance into a single platform that women carry with them throughout the day. As researchers and clinicians attempt to understand and address risk factors for eating disorders, greater attention is needed to the emerging role of social media in young people's lives."
I hate to mention this but Facebook only has the power over a person they permit it to have. The role of social media in eating disorders is that too many young women spend too much time on Facebook. If it bothers them there is always the option of not using Facebook. Maybe researchers should study the positive impact not being on Facebook has for young women with eating disorders.
Maybe I'm being a little too harsh. (Sarcasm Alert) I think social media sites are to blame for all my physical issues. I don't go on Facebook often but when I do I'm deeply affected by it. I also believe Facebook is responsible for me not winning the lottery, writing a Pulitzer Prize-winning book or being able to afford a Lamborghini. I don't know if Facebook is really responsible for all of that but it's not my fault. Wow, this victim-hood stuff is great. Where's my study?
