Social Media May Be Harmful to Mental Health; Women on Fitness Online Are More Likely to Fall Into Narcissistic Trap of Sports Influencers [Study]

New research has set an alarm for a phenomenon that's popular on social media. Rather than improving people's health and well-being, they risk feeding the narcissistic side of influences harming followers, especially young women's mental health.

A News Net Nebraska report specified that this caution is backed by an analysis by the Department of Sports Science at Malmo University in Sweden.

The same report also said that the hashtag #Thoughts Still Solid is a trending topic in both TikTok and Instagram in charts all over the world.

Such a phenomenon has been on the Internet for quite some time. Sports influencers in general see sharing of images of exercises to increase strength and muscle, motivate other people to follow in their footsteps, and attain self-improvement.

#fitspiration

Images of fitness and workout posted on social media with hashtags, like "fitspiration," should inspire other people to exercis; however, in reality, it can lead to the opposite impact.

The study published in the Physical Culture and Sports Studies and Research specified that, according to sports science researcher Aurelin Daoudi from Malmo University in Sweeden, women are falling into the narcissistic trap where they are forced to exercise only by desiring the approval of other people.

Additionally, image-based social media platforms, like Instagram, have an inherent logic of reification, the researcher continued explaining.

Daoudi also said that representing oneself completely through the picture "is actually not impossible." He added, it is not possible to capture everything a person is as an individual through a picture.

Within this culture, it is a great emphasis on a "well-trained, attractive, and sexy body," the science researcher continued.

Potentially Misinformed

It is natural to presume that a person who looks fit, thin, and toned is an expert in both wellness and health, a Snap Fitness report specified.

Plenty of Instagram fitness personalities, including Kayla Itsines with more than nine million followers, have managed to develop their own programs and transform their following into an important business.

Kyla is offering a variety of different programs, encouraging participants to share their "before and after" stories. It has also proven that her techniques can deliver results.

One thing to remember though is that not every fitness personality is considered an expert. One who is sharing his fitness regime on his Instagram story is no assurance that he is knowledgeable of the safest and most efficient ways for one to get healthy.

Fitness on Social Media

Social media is deluged with a number of fitness content that some of it, flat out, will not be good for all people.

Furthermore, not all people can handle high-intensity exercises, restrictive diets, or heavy weight lifting. What the body needs and where one is on his health and wellness journey are distinctive to him.

The most essential thing to remember is that the majority of the influencers that offer health and fitness tips are only giving tips.

They are not guaranteed to reveal the results one may be looking for, and thus, it is essential to be sure to put one's own health first and avoid practices that could lead to an injury or other adverse effects.

Related information about fitness on social media is shown on Mind Pump Show's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on Exercise in Science Times.