Effects of Social Media on Adolescent's Self Esteem and Body Image: A Case Study of Mtoto News Association, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of social media use among adolescents raised concerns about its potential impact on their self-esteem and body image. Adolescents are at a critical stage of identity formation and are particularly susceptible to external influences, making it crucial to understand how social media shapes their perceptions of themselves and their bodies. This study investigated the effects of social media on male and female adolescents' self-esteem and body image, focusing on the Mtoto News Association in Kenya. The study addressed the gap in research by examining the prevalence of different idealized body types and the specific relationships between social media, self-esteem, body image, and demographic characteristics among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years old in the context of the Mtoto News Association. The study employed two theories: the social comparison theory to understand how adolescents compare themselves to those they perceive as better than themselves, and Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Development Theory, specifically the fifth stage, to address adolescents' development. The study utilized a descriptive research design and collected primary data using a combination of standardized questionnaires for adolescents and interview guides for staff members. The target population comprised 769 adolescents and 16 staff members, from which 224 adolescents (85.2% response rate) were selected using stratified random sampling across three age categories (10–13 years, 14–16 years, and 17–19 years), and all 16 staff members (100% response rate) participated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, applying descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses. Ethical standards, including informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality, were strictly observed. The results showed that moderate body types demonstrated the highest prevalence as ideals, with 183 (81.7%) respondents selecting these figures, while thin body types showed lower prevalence at 41 (18.3%) respondents, and overweight body types demonstrated zero prevalence (0%). Regarding self-esteem, 145 (64.7%) respondents reported moderate self-esteem, 66 (29.5%) reported high self-esteem, and only 13 (5.8%) reported low self-esteem. For body image dissatisfaction, 191 (85.3%) respondents experienced moderate dissatisfaction, 26 (11.6%) experienced low dissatisfaction, and only 7 (3.1%) experienced high dissatisfaction. Chi-square analyses revealed that all demographic characteristics significantly intervened in the relationships between social media use and both self-esteem and body image (p = 0.000), with educational level showing the strongest intervening effect (χ² = 456.865 for self-esteem; χ² = 356.056 for body image), followed by family economic status (χ² = 267.064 for self-esteem; χ² = 274.923 for body image) and age category (χ² = 312.732 for self-esteem; χ² = 273.359 for body image. The study concluded that while social media significantly affected adolescents' self-esteem and body image, protective factors within the organizational environment effectively moderated these influences. It is recommended that organizations implement comprehensive media literacy programs, develop interventions tailored to vulnerable demographic groups, strengthen supportive environments that promote positive self-concepts, and advocate for policies addressing platform-specific risks while leveraging the positive potential of social media in adolescent development.