Other Issue in Media and Society

Objectification of women

Blog deals with an objectification in the media, especialy a perception of women and a portrayal of women in the media. As a woman, I have to say that it is a serious issue and consequences are real.

Social Media Is Not Real Life

I would like to recommend this blog, because it is very easy to get lost in the world of the media sometimes, which may have a serious consequences. There should be a higher awareness about an issue, especially for adolescents.

Negative Influences of Instagram

Since I have been using the Instagram, I am also struggling with comparison and negative effects sometimes. Instagram has become a part of our everyday life and it may easily turn from positive to negative tool without a proper awareness. Some people still do not differentiate between reality and the world of the social media, that is why it may be helpful to write about. 

Children and Advertising

It is really important topic and may be a serious issue for parents. Agree that crucial while rising up children is a communication. Unfortunately there is no just one and guaranteed working way to succeed.

Instagram Causes Depression

I would like to recommend this blog since I agree that the Instagram may be a reson of a depression. It is serious issue for many young girls, but also boys. Consequences are visible and real.

My View

From my point of view, it is such a present topic and issue for many young people. Recently, experts and influencers have been trying to educate people and point out to a self love, self evaluation, and knowing your own worth. Even though consequences of presenting a certain body image by the social media are still visible. Between the main consequences we can include an inferiority, a self harm, using of prohibited substances, or mental health issues such as an anorexia or bulimia.

How to realize and embrace your own unique self?

Conditional love says: I will love under certain conditions. Unconditional love says: I love! And that is all. Unconditional love is very closely related to the ability to accept oneself. One of the biggest mistake we face in our life is a conviction that someone has to appreciate us. That someone has to convince us that we deserve to be loved. That we have to behave or look in a certain way to deserve love or to be worthy of something. That we have to look for a love everywhere else but not in ourselves. We often try to act in order to be liked by our environment, instead of being a true manifestation of ourselves, and to appreciate it. The pressure on us to meet certain "norms" is pressing on us. We are afraid that we will not be accepted or we will be a target of a ridicule and gossiping. We need to realize that an unconditional love does not mean to meet opinions of others and to fulfill trends and norms.

In order not to doubt about your value and not to fall into the social media trend you need to experience an unconditional love to yourself. Throughout my own journey I have observed a few important things I has been trying to get rid of. A fear that we will not be loved by others anymore. That we will not be accepted in general. Often we vilify ourselves as we are stupid and worthless when something does not go as planned, insted of learn from it and grow thanks to it. Internally, we set commands and prohibitions. It may block us in our natural and spontaneous action so that we do not act as we feel, but rather according to what is expected from us. There may be thoughts that we do not deserve something. That we are not "good enough." These ideas stem from feelings of inferiority. We are very critical to ourselves and we are still looking for some mistakes. We are not happy with ourselves, with our bodies, with who we are and how we look. We put inadequate demands on ourselves. We do not believe to and underestimate our strengths. Last but not least, we are afraid of the future.

It takes time and practice step by step to fully embrace and be in a harmony with yourfelf. To learn to listen your gut voice. To realize your value. To respect yourself and accept others.

For Further Research

For a what purpose are we using all those filters and photoshops? For a what reason are we trying to create some kind of an illusion of a better version of ourselves? In order to meet certain “ideal beauty“ or “ideal perfection.“ (Smith, 2017)

I would recommend this article mainly because of a part “How to use social media to improve on a self-esteem.“

⇨ How Social Media Impacts Beauty Standards for Boys and Girls

I would recommend this short presentation because it concerns mainly about teens. Additionally, you can find here statistics for a better imagination in numbers.

⇨ Social media's affect on body image

On the other hand, social media with a proper purpose can be a very helpful tool. Correct and positive influence, supporting, teaching how to build a confidence, and how to respect and value yourself. We are talking about a body positivity. The impact have role models who show an imperfection which is actually perfect. A real picture of a diversity. (Mazu, 2018)

I would highly recommend for people who are struggling with embracing their “imperfections.“

⇨ Body Positivity - Using Social Media for Good

What the Experts Say II

We have jumped into the online world and have forgotten to live outside of social networks. It is like our daily routine to share what we eat, buy or watch with the world. But can you guess the most treacherous thing on social sites? You can live a totally different life. You can be happy, even if you are not. You can be on a vacation with friends, even if you are sitting at home alone. You can have an amazing body on the photos, even if you do not feel content while looking in the mirror. People tend to show a positive picture of their life, even if they are unhappy and have struggles or issues. And more we receive such a content, more we doubt we are not enough, more we compare and more we lose a motivation. The research shows that we often fail to realize that the world of social sites may appear in a better light than a reality is. (Thompson, 2018)

⇨ Too much social media may harm a woman's body image

What the Experts Say I

Nowdays, sosicial networks are the most viewed media by young people. What is on the social network, it exists and what is not, it simply does not exist. On the one hand, funny, on the other hand, serious. Worse is the fact that social networks significantly affect our self-image. The results of the study shows that social media have a strong influence on how people perceive their bodies, which may lead to psychological and physical problems. Often it's based on a comparison with friends or media personalities and awaiting a feedback from others. The more people spend on the network, the more likely they will be affected and concentrate their attention on physical appearance. On the other hand, people who are able to critically receive a content, select, and understand using of the media are less likely to be affected by it. In this case we are talking about a media literacy. (Paxton, McLean, 2016)

⇨ Social media can damage body image - here’s how to counteract it

Physical appearance on the social media

When have we got into a stage that because of an influence of a social media we are unable to distinguish between a reality and a world of a social media? When have we embraced values and opinions of media as a normal even though they were perceived as a “trend“ just a few years earlier. What kind of “a trend“ I am talking about? That everything besides a perfection is inferior. That we need to look and act in a certain way, otherwise we are “weird, fat, and ugly.“ The pressure is so powerful that it is no wonder if we get lost in it from time to time, we doubt about us, and we may feel like we are not enough, not just for our environment, but for us, as well. Many people have accepted it and adjusted to it. Many times they present such values and subsequently influence others. On the other hand, many people struggle with it, compare their unique self to the appearance on the social media and that is why they are unable to appreciate their originality and a gifted body they have. The fact is that more sensitive are women, but struggle both women and men.

Current Events II

Have you ever found yourself feel inferior because of a negative opinion on your person by someone else? Have you ever doubted about yourself, your strenghts, or about your physical appearance because of an outrageous comment by anyone? First step to avoid letting a criticism and insults by others made you not value yourself is to learn how to love yourself with your imperfections, which make you perfect as you are. Learn how to love yourself. Would you let anyone hurt someone you love? With building a self love you would not let anyone to hurt you by inappropriate comments. Additionally, people with an appropriate degree of self-love are less likely comparing themselves to others. They know their values, seek towards their goals and continually work on themselves. They feel an acceptance. And also the acceptance of their external side, their own body. Moreover, a person who feel content with a physical appearance and a mental stage may become a role model for others. On the social media we often meet people who are just pretending a self-love. By creating an illusion of a perfection around them, many times they are hiding a feeling of an insecurity. Actually, they hate many parts of their body, do not value, and do not appreciate themselves as a person.

⇨ Behind the Scars