Social media continues to distort body image

Patrick Bateman, played by Christian Bale, in American Psycho. (Photo courtesy of The Times)

Body image has become a brand in itself within the dawn of social media’s influencer era. It is extremely difficult to break into pop culture’s zeitgeist without attaching a face to the qualities you exhibit, and having an attractive one definitely opens up certain doors. Whether it’s Instagram’s “explore” page or TikTok’s “for you” page, you’d be hard-pressed to scroll on either app without encountering someone flaunting their toned attributes, or using those same qualities to capitalize off of brand deals. While occupational endeavors like modeling or professional weightlifting have long perpetuated the notion that one’s body can be a job in itself, the pervasiveness of targeted content through fitness micro-celebrities blurs the lines of whether such physiques should be casually promoted as obtainable to a generation as impressionable as Gen-Z is when it comes to social media.

Pew Research Center conducted a survey to determine what portion of certain age groups of U.S. adults utilize TikTok as a primary source of news and information; the results found that all age groups combined have had this statistic increase by 3% from 2021 to 2022, but the most stark change was the year-to-year growth of 8% for those aged 18–29. About a quarter of this same demographic depends on TikTok as a regular source of news in 2022. TikTok’s algorithms and ownership have repeatedly been called into question for their potentially intrusive security measures and acute catering of content towards audience interests. The latter source of contention has been a significant contributor towards the fitness industry’s intense prominence on social media that has found various niche groups of support.

One of such subsidiary fanbases has been those who identify as “sigma”. Although the movement is most commonly associated with fictional archetypes that satirize patriarchal standards like American Psycho’s (2000) Patrick Bateman and Fight Club’s (1999) Tyler Durden, such absurd caricatures have been reappropriated as figureheads for the cause that is in polar opposition to the original intentions of the creation of the aforementioned characters. Sigmas are typically defined as independent males that are self-sufficient, but most sigmas also happen to wield a six-pack. On top of the philosophical sentiment of voluntarily becoming an outcast that sigmas advocate for, physical achievement has become the ultimate quantitative representation of such prosperity. This notion is certainly captured by the depictions exhibited by Bateman and Durden, both of whom are megalomaniacs who rely on their physicality to establish superiority over their perceived subordinates. Ironically, some users, particularly on TikTok, who vouch for the sigma lifestyle often post dramatic montages that embody the attitude, such as athletic highlight compilations or using other accomplished celebrities or fictional characters to vicariously portray their state of mind. These videos disseminate ideals of a rigorous work ethic or tireless motivation that should be prioritized over anything else in life, even if it results in ostracism. This lack of moderation creates an unhealthy dynamic with its viewers who feel as though anything that steers off of this strict course is failure.

Liver King built a following based off of his absurd physique. (Photo courtesy of People)

Alternatively, there are fitness influencers who have tried to appeal to the every-man. TikTok users like @thenutritionnarc and @t_nutrition_fitness have relentlessly focused their content on ensuring that those same viewers that make up the growing number of people who gather information from TikTok are not misled by unachievable standards. More than this though, they normalize and humanize the struggle of maintaining physical health, while providing humor and empathy for those who are unsure about their methods. Both accounts combine the idyllic desire for excellence with reality that is embodied by themselves, rather than imaginative figments like Bateman and Durden. In contrast though, influencers like @liverking epitomize the impossible task of sustaining an image that is not naturally attainable. The Liver King was recently exposed for indulging in an abundance of performance enhancing drugs in order to achieve the muscular Michelin Man physique that he consistently claimed was the result of his homage to a naturally primal lifestyle that happened to be fueled by his own businesses’ supplemental products. The Liver King’s scheme was an obvious one that preyed on those who have been waiting for someone to provide them with an alternative value of success that can be used as justification for personal shortcomings.

The issue is that the illusion presented by personalities like the Liver King are just as accessible, and potentially more circulated, than that of traditional fitness influencers because of the virality that is inherent to such a polarizing way of life. Media literacy is becoming more essential than ever, as even when someone like Liver King is defrauded, another pseudo-role model will be there to carry the torch onwards. Considering that online presence is critical in establishing the persona that you want to divulge to onlookers, the fitness industry has leveraged the insecurities of a susceptible demographic that yearns to meet the expectations of presentability that are innate to social media. Can you be too young to care about your body too much, or should youth be the reason why you should not take your temporal physical state for granted? It’s an argument of tangible versus intangible, but the solution should just be one of balance.