The More You See Yourself, The Less You Like Yourself: The Impact of Digital Self-Viewing on Body Image and Mental Health
Biography
I am Yasmina Jmila, a fourth-year undergraduate student in Professional Communication at Toronto Metropolitan University with a minor in Business Essentials. Growing up in the 21st century amid rapid technological change, I experienced firsthand how early exposure to digital innovations can shape individual identity. Because technological progress often outpaces research, my generation has borne the mental health impacts—an enduring reality that now drives my academic inquiry. My primary objective with this research was to promote social good and effect positive change. By raising awareness of the potential risks associated with digital self-viewing, particularly regarding body image and mental health, I aim to help individuals make more informed decisions about their technology use. Overall, this research provides evidence-based insights to inform strategies that support and empower future technology users. For professional inquiries or to connect further, please visit my LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/yasminajmila or email me at yasminajmila@gmail.com.
Details of Project
Digital self-view refers to the act of seeing one’s own image on a screen. As digital communication platforms have become embedded in daily routines, this form of self-viewing now occurs regularly across professional and social contexts (e.g., Zoom, Snapchat). This repeated and often prolonged self-viewing experience represents a significant shift from traditional self-reflection in front of a mirror, which is typically brief, intentional, and confined to private settings. As a result, digital self-viewing has changed how people see and respond to their own image more profoundly than any technological development since the invention of the mirror. However, its psychological implications are still not well understood in current research.This research examines the cognitive and behavioural effects of digital self-viewing. Specifically, it explores how repeated exposure to one’s digital reflection can induce negative self-referential information (SRI) processing, leading individuals to interpret their appearance in a critical way. By identifying parallels between digital self-viewing and the clinical features of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), the study assesses whether sustained engagement with digital self-view can activate maladaptive thought patterns and behaviours associated with BDD. The findings indicate that digital self-viewing may increase vulnerability to—or worsen existing—appearance-related mental health issues.
