Social Media’s Inaccurate Portrayal of “Normal” Body Images is Falsely Advertising and Swaying Women Towards an Unhealthy Lifestyle

The first visual element is a photograph from an advertisement displaying a girl standing in the mirror naked. The viewer sees an extremely skinny girl looking into a reflection of a more overweight girl. This girl clearly has an eating disorder that cannot be controlled. As she constantly gets skinner, she will never be satisfied with the way she looks. The photo depicts emotion and conveys a primary and secondary element, with the light in the background of the photo.

The second visual element is data of several statistics about body image. The percentages and red colors stand out to the viewer’s eye, but the statistics must be read in order to comprehend what is being advertised. The statistics explain different scenarios of women in comparison to the viewing of social media. The data illustrates how it affects their everyday lives and how they feel about themselves not only mentally, but especially physically. The data is shocking and sends a message to society.

The third visual element is two advertisements combined. On the top is a Victoria’s Secret “Love My Body” Campaign displaying several women in only bras and underwear. The women vary in looks, but all seem to be outrageously skinny, “model-like”. On the bottom half of the visual is a Dove “Real Beauty” Campaign, where several women stand close to one another in bras and underwear as well. These women are all different looking and their bodies vary in all shapes and sizes. This combined

photograph depicts the differences in social media and speaks to society. The top photo does not accurately convey how women should look in today’s society. The bottom image expresses to women that they should be able to love the body that they have, no matter the shape or size. This advertisement is the most explanatory of the three because it sends a message to the public about the harms of social media and its poor demonstration of body images.