Impact of Social Media Usage on Social Comparison and Body Dissatisfaction among University Students

This study examined the relationship between social media use, social comparison, and body dissatisfaction and the differences on the basis of demographics (age, gender, and marital status). Cross-sectional research design was conducted on 240 students, including male and female undergraduate and graduate students from Gujranwala and Wazirabad. Data was collected using the Social Comparison Scale, Social Network Usage Scale, and Body Shape Questionnaire. Participants were assessed using SPSS. The results of this study show that there is a non-significant negative relationship between social media use and body dissatisfaction. There is a non-significant positive relationship between social media use and social comparison, and there are no significant differences on the basis of demographics. Findings revealed a positive relationship with social comparison but, unexpectedly, a negative relationship with body dissatisfaction, possibly due to exposure to body-positive content in Eastern cultures. No significant gender or age differences were observed, suggesting that cultural norms and appearance-based stereotypes may affect both sexes equally. These results challenge Western assumptions and imply that reducing unrealistic beauty standards can minimize media’s harmful effects. Promoting inclusive and positive content can help improve body image. The study also shows that men and women both face appearance-related stereotypes, so these ideas need to be changed. Overall, this research gives useful information about how social media affects body image in different cultures.