The impact of instagram on risks of developing eating disorders: Young female adults and appearance-focused accounts

The prevalence and extensive usage of Instagram as a social media platform have drawn my attention to the issue of appearance-oriented accounts on Instagram that endorse unrealistic standards of beauty. These accounts may contribute to the development of eating disorders, especially among young adult women. Various studies consistently indicate a connection between exposure to idealized depictions of female beauty in the media and negative effects on mood, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and a desire to be thin. Recent research has specifically focused on appearance-oriented accounts on Instagram, which prominently display manipulated images of beauty showcasing unattainable body ideals and flawless appearances. Given that a significant portion of Instagram users are young adult women, who are particularly vulnerable to societal pressures, it is crucial to understand the association between appearanceoriented Instagram accounts and the risk of eating disorders. Eating disorders have severe psychological and physical consequences and disproportionately affect young adult women. The research establishes a theoretical foundation by comprehensively reviewing literature on gender and power dynamics, female body image, ideals of female beauty, the connection between media and eating disorders in women, social media, and Instagram, with a specific focus on feminist perspectives and the impact of media on women's perceptions of their bodies. The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between appearance-oriented Instagram accounts and the risk of eating disorders among young adult women. The experiment study examines the influence on body image, body satisfaction, self-esteem, mood, and drive for thinness and explores the relationship between appearance-oriented Instagram accounts and eating disorders. The main hypotheses of this study propose that extensive exposure to appearance-oriented accounts on Instagram has a negative impact on mood, self-esteem, body image, and increases the likelihood of developing eating disorders.