Unseen Scars: How Body Shaming on Social Media and in University Impacts Students

AbstractThis study investigates the corrosive effects of body shaming on Delhi University (DU) students, amplified by social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat and entrenched in college environments. Drawing from qualitative insights gathered through five focus group discussions (FGDs) with 30 students from two DU colleges, the research uncovers how body shaming, through peers, family, and digital spaces, leads to anxiety, self-doubt, and diminished self-worth among them. Social media’s curated ideals and relentless comparisons intensify traditional beauty standards, while campus culture normalizes mockery disguised as humor. The study advocates for robust interventions: institutional support, digital literacy programs, and body-positive campaigns to foster resilience and healthier self-perceptions among university students.