Cartoon: The digital diet

Aahna Chauhan, Staff Writer • March 3, 2026

With the rise of social media, many people have found their lives being influenced in many ways by content they consume online — including eating habits and self-perceptions. According to the National Institute of Health, consistent social media habits can establish undesirable body image judgments. Young people are the most susceptible to this and may compare themselves to unattainable or edited physiques online. According to the Virtue Recovery Center, many people feel pressured to look or eat a certain way due to body types they see online. This issue has become increasingly widespread. According to the Ballard Brief, 40% of kids reported that social media made them worry about their body image. Social media can be a source of misinformation about body types and diets — companies need to do a better job moderating this content. (Aahna Chauhan)

About the Contributor

Aahna Chauhan

Aahna Chauhan, Staff Writer

Aahna Chauhan (class of 2028) is a sophomore at Carlmont High School writing for Scot Scoop. She loves music, drawing, and astronomy. You can find her practicing badminton, at her martial arts dojo, or hanging out with friends.