The Dark Side of Social Media and the Fitness Industry

1.Working Hypothesis

Showing responsibility within the fitness community is more essential to the younger audience rather than fishing for attention or popularity, due to the clear mental and physical health challenges that younger people experience when they see the unrealistic standards that are being set. 

1a. Working Hypothesis 2

Fitness influencers recklessly endanger vulnerable youth by presenting them with dangerously unattainable models of fitness that create anxiety, shame, and despair in their followers. These influencers need to stop, and instead lead with positivity and responsibility.

Practice opening (old)

The fitness industry is one of those things that has always been around, and will continue to stay around for a very long time. It feels as if recently, more and more individuals are trying to better themselves in terms of physical activity. However, more people being introduced to the fitness industry can lead to more people being deceived or manipulated by “influencers.” These people either promote the wrong things or flat out just try to gain attention from how their bodies look. Responsibility from fitness influencers within the fitness community is more essential to the younger audience rather than fishing for attention or popularity, due to the clear mental and physical health challenges that younger people experience when they see the unrealistic standards that are being set. 

Practice opening (improved)

Because more people are being introduced to the fitness world by means of social media, more people are being deceived and manipulated by so-called “fitness influencers.” Instead of providing essential information to achieve a healthy lifestyle, these influencers promote things that damage the body, or just post their physiques for the attention and popularity that they could gain from it. Having responsible leaders within the fitness community is vital to ensure the safety of newcomers’ mental and physical health.  

2. All Purposeful Summaries of Sources

Chris Hemsworth is exactly what’s wrong with the fitness industry – medium. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://bettermarketing.pub/chris-hemsworth-is-exactly-whats-wrong-with-the-fitness-industry-b9a74d0fe007

• Chris Hemsoworth is just one of the many influencers that is sublimely tricking their young audience. With the creation of his new fitness program, Centerfit, Hemsworth charges around $120 for users to gain access to the information and guidance. This will help me prove my claim that toxic influencers don’t really have their audience in mind, but instead are focused on generating income for the unaware and vulnerable. This article also calls out Hemsworth’s obvious downplay to his own steroid use, which is a factor in why people are misguided when they use his platform. They expect to follow the diet and look like Thor in a few weeks, but don’t have the full truth, which is that steroids were a part of Hemsworth routine allowing him to put on so much mass for his movie roles. 

Commissioner, O. of the. (n.d.). Teens and steroids: A dangerous combo. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/teens-and-steroids-dangerous-combo

• Steroids can cause both long and short term injuries and side effects to anyone who uses them. Even more so in teenagers whose bodies are still developing and changing. I will use this in part of my causal argument to help reinforce my claims that toxic fitness influencers are recklessly endangering our youth. This article also provided the reader with background information regarding the legality of steroids, the specific dangers, and how they are so easily accessible. These could all fit into my causal argument as well. 

Connor, L. (2017, October 5). Two-thirds of youngsters would be happy if social media didn’t exist. Evening Standard. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://www.standard.co.uk/escapist/health/twothirds-of-schoolchildren-would-be-happy-if-social-media-didn-t-exist-study-reveals-a3651251.html

• I find it counterintuitive that people will know and acknowledge that social media makes them feel inferior to others, but those same people don’t try to escape from the environment. Most of our youth is immersed in social media, but regardless of how they feel, they choose to still interact with it because they don’t want to feel left out or miss anything important. This can help me in my arguments because by showing that our youth has trouble making responsible choices for their own health, it would be easy for toxic influencers to manipulate and alter their perceptions due our youth’s impressionable young minds. The article quotes, “Despite this (our youth feeling less confident), 56 per cent admitted to being on the edge of addiction when it comes to checking their social media apps on a regular basis.” 

Corticosteroids market size 2022 and growth analysis. The Business Research Company. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/corticosteroid-global-market-report

• The market of steroids is continuously growing year by year. According to this article, the expected market size for steroids by 2026 will be around $5.93 billion. Not all of this growth and money is due to the fitness industry, the large majority is from steroids that are used to battle cancers and other health related issues. I can use this in my argument to help depict to the reader that this industry will forever be on the incline, making it easier and easier for our youth to get their hands on these drugs. With more supply on the market, it is more likely that illegal steroid distributors will have a higher chance to sell steroids to anyone who may want or need them. 

Cyr, D., Chua, T. H. H., Boepple, L., & Blond, A. (2019, May 10). Comparing and modeling via social media: The social influences of fitspiration on male Instagram users’ work out intention. Computers in Human Behavior. Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563219301864 

• The article gives me evidence that influencers’ physiques and attractiveness has a direct but negative effect on one’s workout intention. When we see someone who we think looks better or has more muscles than us, we try to think of ways that we can compete with them. Many teens and even adults are introduced into the fitness world, not because they felt that they needed to change, but because they were pressured to change to fit in with this ever changing world. Social comparison is a big thing in the fitness industry. 

Digital platforms on steroids – digital citizens alliance. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.digitalcitizensalliance.org/clientuploads/directory/Reports/DCA_Platforms_on_Steroids_Report-Final.pdf

• This article goes into depth on how social media apps like Facebook and Instagram subliminally enable the sale of illegal anabolic steroids. We see our favorite weightlifters and athletes with huge followings, receiving attention for the physiques. What many do not know though is that these bodies are not always built naturally, but sometimes by the help of steroids. Once the viewers realize that steroids are involved, they go on a search for any they can find, and because the majority of the people searching are under the legal age to purchase them, they have to resort to illegal sellers or the cheaper, but just as dangerous alternatives. This is helpful in my agreement because it can help me show to the reader that although social media is intended for good things, dirty influencers make the environment toxic. Many of these influencers also have links to supplements that they have used which are full of chemicals, dangerous to an altering young body. 

Dowshen, S. (Ed.). (2017, February). Are steroids worth the risk? (for teens) – nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/steroids.html

• The article gives insight to the numerous risks for both males and females when they are taking anabolic steroids. I think it is counterintuitive for someone to know these risks and still take steroids because of the pressure they feel to look like their favorite influencers. With a simple google search, it is pretty evident that steroids should not be used at all, even more so when it is in regards to teenagers. I could use this in my causal argument to help me explain the effects of steroids in teenagers’ bodies when they are older. 

Griffiths, S., Murray, S., Krug, I., & McLean, S. (n.d.). The contribution of social media to body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and anabolic steroid use among sexual minority men. Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29363993/

• I find it interesting that a place made to share ideas and lift people up, can lead to body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and anabolic steroid use in our youth. Dirty fitness influences have created a false sense of reality for their viewers, in which they all have to look and act the same inorder to fit in with social norms. According to the article, apps like Facebook and Instagram are two of the main social media platforms that have been at the forefront of causing all of these negative feelings within our youth’s minds. I can use this in my argument to help depict that the internet and social media is not all “sunshine and rainbows.”

Hosie, R., & Dodgson, L. (2022, February 3). Steroids are rampant among fitness influencers, trainers and bodybuilders say. most use in secret, claiming their gains come from workouts and diet plans. Insider. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.insider.com/fitness-influencers-steroids-secret-dangerous-body-dysmorphia 

• Dirty fitness influencers shield their steroid use from the world, making their viewers unaware of what is truly attainable naturally. Many of these influencers claim that their “gains” are coming from their workout regimes or extremely healthy diets, but many can see through those lies. This can be used in my arguments to show that although adults may be able to pick out the liars from the honest influencers, young teens may not be able to decipher what is true or false. This can lead them down a road of deception and danger. 

Is social media driving anabolic steroid use? us16.campaign. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=49bd1b78fdfbe54419039d2f3&id=459cc471cf

• Social media addiction is rampant, with more than “81% of teens registered on social media.” While the benefits of social media should be acknowledged, the risk of social comparison between each other is extremely heightened. Social media tries to push the “perfect body image” that we should all strive for, which can lead to crippling thoughts of shame and guilt to anyone who may already feel lesser. This can be used in my argument to show that cons of social media can in some cases outweigh the pros. None of us want our youth to feel envious of what others have. Social media should teach that what we already have is good, but there is room for improvement. 

Khore. (2022, July 27). How social media influenced the fitness industry: AFA Blog. Australian Fitness Academy. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.fitnesseducation.edu.au/blog/health/how-social-media-has-influenced-the-fitness-industry/

• Social media gives us access to connect with others from all around the world and allows us to  receive valuable information for free. The author states, “Gone are the days where you need to pay for a magazine subscription, as so much valuable content is now posted online for free.” It is made clear that the author is in favor of social media, valuing what it has to offer. Social media has many pros and cons, but the author chooses to focus on the pros, some of which include the spreading of new ideas, the ability to network, the offering of motivation, and the ability to market your name, business, or product.  I could use this in my rebuttal to show the dark sides of social media that are displayed in all of these little categories. 

Lee, N. (2022, November 15). Does Chris Hemsworth use steroids? Ned Hardy. Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://nedhardy.com/2022/06/03/chris-hemsworth-steroids/ 

• I find it counterintuitive that people will idolize fitness celebrities that are clearly not natural. This doesn’t mean that their work should be disregarded completely, but those who lie about their past shouldn’t be more famous in the fitness industry than those that achieve their success naturally and sincerely. People like Chris Hemsworth, shouldn’t be the main sources of inspiration and motivation that our youth is seeking. In doing so, they will be misguided and led astray from doing what is right. This will be a part of my argument that even those that we believe to be impactful, have their own lies and dirty secrets. 

Noonan. (2018). Social Media Fitness Influencers: Innovators and Motivators [University of Iowa].https://iro.uiowa.edu/discovery/fulldisplay/alma9984111976102771/01IOWA_INST:ResearchRepository

• The author of this research paper is highly favoring the creation of social media. The main point of this article is that social media provides the world with either “motivators or innovators.” Because people focus their daily routines around social media, it is no surprise though that people find themselves  believing and listening to every little thing that they see online. The author, Morgan Noonan, states, “A recent study done by Dr. Jonah Berger, a professor at the Wharton School showed that 88% of consumers were highly likely to follow a recommendation made by a micro-influencer.” It is unfortunate that so many people are so dependent on the advice of influencers that don’t even care about their viewers though. I can use the statistic above to show that people are so impressionable when it comes to taking advice from fitness influencers, even if that advice is not good or credible. 

Paulson, P. (n.d.). Delusions of a dream physique: Influencers perpetuate unrealistic expectations. Spartan Shield. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://spartanshield.org/31453/student-life/delusions-of-a-dream-physique-influencers-perpetuate-unrealistic-expectations/#:~:text=When%20people%20start%20to%20become,for%20teenagers%20and%20younger%20people. 

• I find it terrible that influencers are creating unrealistic expectations within their viewers minds. Viewers should know if the influencer they follow has ever been on steroids. Teens end up going on a never ending journey to achieve their dream body, but at the end of the day, they can’t unless they turn to steroids. In the article, David Baxter, states, “You can’t just be 6’8, 400 lbs of muscle and deadlift over 1,000 pounds just by eating food and lifting weights.” I can use this in my short essay to help me emphasize that our youth’s perception is easily altered by bogus fitness influencers. This never ending journey is dangerous to one’s mental and physical health, as it is always draining them. 

Smithers, D. (2021, July 6). Bodybuilder Calls Out Fitness Influencers After Admitting Steroid Use. LADbible. Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://www.ladbible.com/news/viral-bodybuilders-calls-out-fitness-influencers-after-admitting-to-steroid-20210706

• There are good fitness influencers out there. Influencers such as Noel Deyzel, who have been open about their past steroids, but educate their young audiences on the dangers of steroid abuse are so important. Transparency from the creator to the viewer is important in establishing realistic goals and dreams. This can be used somewhere in an essay to show what influencers should be doing. I can also compare the good influencers to the bad influencers. 

Steroids fast facts. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs5/5448/index.htm 

• Steroids are illegal without a prescription. Most of the time, a prescription will not be written unless you have a serious health problem. Still many teens end up with steroids, and that leaves many in question of how they are obtaining them. Sometimes, these kids get access from illegal sellers at the gym, but other times they buy cheaper but equally dangerous supplements from websites like amazon. Some influences also promote the supplement that they use on their own profiles. This is helpful because I can argue that the people promoting and selling illegal steroids are criminals and should face the consequences. 

Tedford, D. (2007, October 5). Marion Jones admits using steroids. NPR. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15026895

• Olympic sprinter, Marion Jones, admitted to using steroids after denying multiple times that she was natural. It is frustrating that people who are viewed as inspirations, keep these details away from their followers. Young girls looked up to Jones, as she was a great sprinter, but now they have to face the fact that unless they are genetically gifted, they will probably not achieve the same success that she has reached. This is important to my argument because I will compare it to how influencers of the past were much more open and honest about how they got to where they were, when the influencers of today conceal their secrets for personal gain. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021, April 12). Who uses anabolic steroids? National Institutes of Health. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/steroids-other-appearance-performance-enhancing-drugs-apeds/who-uses-anabolic-steroids

• This article just simply states who the majority of steroid users are. It may not be that helpful in my writing except if I need a quick statistic. Some pieces of evidence could be “The vast majority of people who misuse steroids are male non-athlete weightlifters in their 20s or 30s,” and “about 22 percent of anabolic steroid users started as teenagers.” This article also displays that the number of highschool students using steroids has increased over the past decade and a half. 

Wellman, M. (2016, February 17). Here’s how social media is inspiring you to workout. The Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/life/living-well/2016/02/17/how-social-media-is-inspiring-you-to-workout/80026366/ 

• According to this article, social media inspires us to workout. They claim that it is a good source of inspiration for people who want to make a change in their life. They claim that because there is a community of people doing the same thing, we should feel good about wanting to make a change in our lives. I can counter this by explaining the motives behind why we really workout. The inspiration shouldn’t be coming from others, it should be coming from within our own selves to make a difference. When it comes from an outside force, then it is just succumbing to the pressure of the outside world.

Yu, C. (2021, November 18). 7 ways to use social media to boost your workout motivation. Life by Daily Burn. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/social-media-workout-motivation/#:~:text=Social%20media%20doesn’t%20just,full%20of%20positive%20self%2Dtalk. 

• This article claims that the fitness side of social media can help us mentally. This is a piece that I will counter. The author claims, “Social media doesn’t just build your physical fitness, it can help improve your mental muscles too.”  There are many sources that I can pull evidence from that will support my claim that the fitness industry is very harmful to our youths minds. They also claim that social media is full of positive content. While that may be true, there are many cases of young teens being bullied or mistreated when they enter the fitness community. 

References

Chris Hemsworth is exactly what’s wrong with the fitness industry – medium. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://bettermarketing.pub/chris-hemsworth-is-exactly-whats-wrong-with-the-fitness-industry-b9a74d0fe007

Commissioner, O. of the. (n.d.). Teens and steroids: A dangerous combo. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/teens-and-steroids-dangerous-combo

Connor, L. (2017, October 5). Two-thirds of youngsters would be happy if social media didn’t exist. Evening Standard. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://www.standard.co.uk/escapist/health/twothirds-of-schoolchildren-would-be-happy-if-social-media-didn-t-exist-study-reveals-a3651251.html

Corticosteroids market size 2022 and growth analysis. The Business Research Company. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/corticosteroid-global-market-report

Cyr, D., Chua, T. H. H., Boepple, L., & Blond, A. (2019, May 10). Comparing and modeling via social media: The social influences of fitspiration on male Instagram users’ work out intention. Computers in Human Behavior. Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563219301864 

Digital platforms on steroids – digital citizens alliance. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.digitalcitizensalliance.org/clientuploads/directory/Reports/DCA_Platforms_on_Steroids_Report-Final.pdf

Dowshen, S. (Ed.). (2017, February). Are steroids worth the risk? (for teens) – nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/steroids.html

Griffiths, S., Murray, S., Krug, I., & McLean, S. (n.d.). The contribution of social media to body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and anabolic steroid use among sexual minority men. Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29363993/

Hosie, R., & Dodgson, L. (2022, February 3). Steroids are rampant among fitness influencers, trainers and bodybuilders say. most use in secret, claiming their gains come from workouts and diet plans. Insider. Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://www.insider.com/fitness-influencers-steroids-secret-dangerous-body-dysmorphia 

Is social media driving anabolic steroid use? us16.campaign. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=49bd1b78fdfbe54419039d2f3&id=459cc471cf

Khore. (2022, July 27). How social media influenced the fitness industry: AFA Blog. Australian Fitness Academy. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.fitnesseducation.edu.au/blog/health/how-social-media-has-influenced-the-fitness-industry/

Lee, N. (2022, November 15). Does Chris Hemsworth use steroids? Ned Hardy. Retrieved November 22, 2022, from https://nedhardy.com/2022/06/03/chris-hemsworth-steroids/ 

Noonan. (2018). Social Media Fitness Influencers: Innovators and Motivators [University of Iowa].https://iro.uiowa.edu/discovery/fulldisplay/alma9984111976102771/01IOWA_INST:ResearchRepository

Paulson, P. (n.d.). Delusions of a dream physique: Influencers perpetuate unrealistic expectations. Spartan Shield. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://spartanshield.org/31453/student-life/delusions-of-a-dream-physique-influencers-perpetuate-unrealistic-expectations/#:~:text=When%20people%20start%20to%20become,for%20teenagers%20and%20younger%20people. 

Smithers, D. (2021, July 6). Bodybuilder Calls Out Fitness Influencers After Admitting Steroid Use. LADbible. Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://www.ladbible.com/news/viral-bodybuilders-calls-out-fitness-influencers-after-admitting-to-steroid-20210706

Steroids fast facts. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2022, from https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs5/5448/index.htm

Tedford, D. (2007, October 5). Marion Jones admits using steroids. NPR. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15026895

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021, April 12). Who uses anabolic steroids? National Institutes of Health. Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/steroids-other-appearance-performance-enhancing-drugs-apeds/who-uses-anabolic-steroids

Wellman, M. (2016, February 17). Here’s how social media is inspiring you to workout. The Des Moines Register. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/life/living-well/2016/02/17/how-social-media-is-inspiring-you-to-workout/80026366/ 

Yu, C. (2021, November 18). 7 ways to use social media to boost your workout motivation. Life by Daily Burn. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/social-media-workout-motivation/#:~:text=Social%20media%20doesn’t%20just,full%20of%20positive%20self%2Dtalk. 

3. Topics for Smaller Papers

• Social media also makes people value materialistic items more.

– On top of making people value the results of working out instead of valuing the process it takes to get to the top naturally, social media also makes people value things have generally have no importance on living a healthy/happy life.

(Cause/Effect) People spend way too much time on social media causing them to fantasize and desire unnecessary materialistic items that they see other people own.

(Counter argument/Flaws) There are people who have no involvement in social media, meaning they aren’t around those negative influences, and can still be unhappy.

• Some people are genetically unable to achieve some of the physiques that are posted on social media by natural means.

If people see that working out without supplements is not giving them the results they want, they need to realize that one, it takes time to see changes, and two, your genetic makeup may not be coded for you to look like exactly how you want.

(Counter argument/Flaws)- Everyone has the potential to obtain their dream physique, it just may take a lot more time and a lot more effort, but still achievable naturally.

(Cause/Effect) people see that they can’t achieve their goals naturally, so they may turn to steroids for that added boost, regardless of the side effects.

• People take short cuts in their daily lives all the time, whether it be good or bad. (But it shouldn’t be normalized in fitness)

When people don’t see things going their way, they get lazy or tired of doing the same things without reaping the benefits. People want the results ASAP, so they do things they really shouldn’t be doing to obtain whatever they’re looking for.

(Cause/Effect)People see the results that others are receiving and are envious of that, They want those same results now. Meaning, they will cut corners to achieve their goal. For example, the use of steroids, or in a completely different situation, people who commit fraud to make a lot of money.

(Counter argument/Flaws)- Sometimes short cuts are good. Working smarter is usually always better than working harder. Depends on situation.

• Toxic influencers cause body dysmorphia.
• There is a thin silver lining between the things that determine if an influencer is good or bad.
• Influencers should be punished for promoting illegal and dangerous substances.

4. Current State of My Research

(Old) Currently I feel good about where I am at in my research. There happens to be a lot of sources about my topic so finding evidence is not really that difficult. Instead of focusing on my initial hypothesis, and after reviewing the zoom conference, I have shifted my focus to the responsibility that these fitness gurus hold in the fitness community. It seems that writing to that specific group of people will be easier than going with my initial hypothesis, which focused on a much broader group of individuals. I think I’ll be sticking with the revised hypothesis from here on out.

(Old) Almost done. I have many sources that can better the validity and quality of my smaller essays. The thesis that I have shifted in my previous reply is still my main focus. Everything is coming together nicely.

(New) I am nearing the end of my research. I have gathered all the sources that I think will help convince any reader who reads my work. Any other good sources that I add, if I do, will just be the cherry on top at this point. Finding sources for the rebuttal essay was a little difficult. Using a combination of highly specific words though, I was able to find some scholarly articles that benefited my essay. I am confident in my work so far. I might have to go back to my definition and causal essay and make sure that everything is aligning properly.