A PSYCHOANALYTICAL LOOK AT THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS ON THE CONSTITUTION OF FEMALE SELF-IMAGE

Abstract

Social media is growing more and more, with social networks standing out among them. These are defined as websites and applications that enable interaction between people of different age groups/locations, thus enabling the dissemination of information, promotion of products and services, and the influence of actions. Given this scenario, this study aimed to analyze the impact of social networks on women's self-image. The methodology was based on an integrative literature review, based on scientific articles and doctrines. Data collection was carried out through databases such as Scielo, PubMed, LILACS, Google Scholar, among others, from 2019 to 2024. The results clearly show that women are the ones who suffer the most from image dissatisfaction, due to social pressure and the intense influence of the media. Social networks are highly dangerous for women, because they place them in an almost unique standard that does not correspond to the majority of other women. When dealing with these women, psychologists must have a critical and sensitive perspective that can guide, monitor and treat these self-image distortion disorders, in order to help these women to better deal with their emotions. In this sense, this research understands that there needs to be a balance in women's use of social networks, not in the sense of abandonment, but of caution, of seeing these networks as a form of information and not as instruction on behavior and image.