Uso de redes sociales y percepción de la imagen corporal en estudiantes universitarios

Abstract

The use of social media is a very common practice in today's world. It allows us to interact with people who share similar tastes and interests and provides instant access to information. This has changed the way human beings view and perceive themselves. Many times, the content consumed focuses on body stereotypes and specific aesthetics driven by social pressure and comparison. Therefore, this research aims to determine the relationship between social media use and body image perception in students from Universidad Técnica de Ambato, specifically from <Facultad de Jurisprudencia y Ciencias Sociales=, with a sample of 270 students. The study adopts a qualitative approach to recognize patterns and behaviors among the respondents, utilizing descriptive, correlational, analytical-synthetic, and deductive methods. The results indicate a close relationship between social media use and body image perception. In other words, higher social media usage correlates with a more negative perception of body image. The profile identified belongs predominantly to young women with moderate self- esteem levels, demonstrating that social media usage not only alters habits and behaviors in university students but is also associated with body dissatisfaction and behaviors aimed at modifying their bodies. Additionally, the research concludes that the relevance of this topic lies in its significant impact on today's world and how it is rapidly evolving. However, through conscious management based on education and the visibility of these issues, which go beyond theoretical discourse, it is possible to create support networks and resilience among users. This could lead to improvements in both the use and consumption of social media content, thereby reducing the negative effects of stereotypes and beauty standards.