Final Analysis

In conclusion of my research, I have learned that while social media can support a positive interaction and therefore returned response, it doesn't seem to be enough to overturn the negativity viewers carry during their usage of social media.

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Through surveying it was revealed that perception seen on social media can negatively influence the way viewers perceive themselves and their lives. Participants' responses informed me that social media can lead to dissatisfaction with aspects of everyday life and feelings of unhappiness and anxiety. I can definitely say social media does negatively affect viewer's mental health. Although, in my thematic analysis, I learned the most information on how young women's perception of body image may be disturbed from social media posts.

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Finalizing my thematic analysis of social media posts under specific hashtags, I learned that there is an ideal portrayal of the figure; that figure being skinny/thin. While users can relate positively to posts, there is also evidence of dissatisfaction, insecurity, and bitterness towards users and viewers themselves. Many of the negative comments were centered around how viewers felt about themselves and those in the post.