Hur gymnasietjejer upplever skönhetsidealen på sociala medier

Sammanfattning

This study examines how final-year high school girls experience their self-esteem and self-image, and how these are influenced by beauty ideals on social media, with a particular focus on the app TikTok. The study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with eight high school girls, and the data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Carl Rogers’ theory of self-concept was used as a theoretical framework to interpret the findings. The results show that exposure to beauty-related content on TikTok often leads to comparisons with slim and physically attractive influencers and other users, which evoked self-critical thoughts about one’s appearance. However, the degree of impact varied among participants. Girls who described themselves as having higher self-esteem generally experienced less negative influence, whereas those with lower self-esteem reported stronger negative effects and, in some cases, changes in appearance-related behaviours such as makeup routines or dietary habits. At the same time, content portraying more realistic bodies and natural appearances was described as positive and empowering, contributing to increased self-acceptance. These findings can be understood through Carl Rogers’ concept of the discrepancy between the actual self and the ideal self, which helped explain why some individuals are more affected than others. Overall, the study provided a deeper understanding of how beauty ideals on TikTok may influence young women’s self-esteem and self-image, as well as which factors may increase vulnerability or serve as protective influences in the context of social media use.