Influence of Social Media on Young Adults’ Food Choices

Abstract

The research examines how social media affects the eating habits of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29. Social media platforms including Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok now serve as key elements in daily life and heavily impact the lifestyle and dietary choices of young adults in modern digital society. Social media platforms deliver an ongoing stream of food content which includes health trends promoted by influencers as well as fast food and sugary snack advertisements. Food selections today are determined by multiple factors such as personal taste and nutritional awareness along with visual attractiveness and the effects of social influence and comparison. This study uses Social Cognitive Theory, Social Comparison Theory, and Expectancy-Value Theory as theoretical bases to examine how young adult food choices are affected by body image perceptions, societal norms, influencer endorsements, and visual design elements. The research design employed a quantitative methodology using two standardized instruments: The investigation leveraged two measurement tools: the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) and the Social Media Influence on Food Consumption Behavior Scale (SMIFCBS). The study involved 203 participants who completed the online survey through convenience sampling and represented various socio-economic backgrounds and gender identities. Results from correlation and regression testing showed that social media influence and food consumption behavior share a meaningful positive relationship. The research found that individuals who frequently use social media display greater tendencies towards impulsive eating and food cravings while showing altered dietary habits which include higher consumption of fast foods and calorie-rich snacks. The gender and income-level analysis demonstrated that women and lower-income individuals showed increased vulnerability to social media’s impact on their food selection decisions. The research study shows that social media creates psychological and behavioral effects because it promotes idealized food and body image representations which result in dietary limitations and eating disorders as well as discontent among young adult populations. Social media provides platforms for users to discover healthy recipes and practice mindful eating while also spreading nutritional knowledge. The research highlights how social media serves both as a potential risk factor and a powerful intervention tool. The study emphasizes the immediate requirement for media literacy skills along with critical examination of digital content and the distribution of scientifically supported nutritional information.