Social media and reality TV is ‘bad for body image’, survey suggests

More than half of 18 to 34-year-olds feel that reality TV and social media have a negative effect on how they see their bodies, a survey has found.

The ComRes survey of 2,000 British adults for BBC 5 Live also suggested that younger people were more likely to consider having cosmetic surgery.

Some 35% of people said shows such as Love Island and The Only Way is Essex were responsible.

This figure rose to 55% in the 18 to 34-year-old age group.

ITV recently defended the advertising around Love Island, after criticism from the head of NHS England about seeing trailers for cosmetic breast surgery.

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The ComRes survey also asked people whether they would consider having plastic surgery or a cosmetic procedure, with the younger respondents more likely than any other group to say they would.

More than a third (35%) of that age group would think about having plastic surgery or a cosmetic procedure, compared with an overall average of 20%.

BBC Radio 5 Live spoke to friends Montanna and Kristy, both 27, from Liverpool.

Kristy had breast implants after having a baby: “After the baby my boobs just went like scoops, like witches’ scoops, they were so horrible.

“They had no volume in the top and I thought ‘I’m not going on holiday and wearing a bikini like this, I’d have to put chicken fillets in. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done’.”

Kristy said before the surgery she wouldn’t let her boyfriend see her without a top on: “He adores me no matter what – he was never a boob man before I had them done, but now he’s completely changed.”

Montanna hasn’t had surgery, but seeing Kristy on a recent holiday has made her think more about it: “I just felt completely flat-chested, and you just looked so glamorous and happy and free.

“I’ve wanted a boob job since I was about 16. I’ve always put socks down my bra. I think I’d just be happier in myself, I could just wear different clothes, I wouldn’t be conscious of them, I could just relax a bit more.”

The ComRes survey also suggests a quarter of British adults have either had surgery, or know someone who has had plastic surgery or a cosmetic procedure.

Montanna said they know lots of people who’ve had surgery – and social media plays a big part: “A lot of people have just put themselves into debt for it. They get it on finance, and rather than thinking ‘my priority is to get a nice house’, they’d rather look good for a nice Instagram picture.”

Melinda Messenger started out as a glamour model. She said she had breast surgery when she was 24, going from a C cup to a D cup.

“It was so personal that I didn’t tell anyone, I needed to make an adjustment to feel more like myself.”

She said in hindsight, she wishes she had realised that it wasn’t necessary: “There’s a bit of me that goes – I wish I’d recognised that I was fine as I was.”

The TV presenter has three children. Despite her own regrets, she said she would support her daughter having a breast enlargement: “As long as it was thoroughly talked through and understood, and all the risks and consequences understood, then I would support that.”

For Montanna, she said she thinks there’s a lot of pressure to look good.

“Especially up here where we live, every girl is pretty much perfect. They’ve all had their boobs done, they’re all really thin. I think if you said to the majority of girls, ‘I’ll give you a free boob job’, I think you’d be hard pushed to find people who’d turn it down.”

You can hear the full report on the Emma Barnett Show on Radio 5 Live on Tuesday from 10:00 BST and then afterwards on iPlayer Radio.