IMPACT OF SOCIAL NETWORKS

Social comparison, perfectionism and body image.

Social networks have introduced a dynamic of constant comparison that profoundly affects athletes' self-esteem.

Exposure to idealized, edited images of "perfect" bodies or successful lives creates a discrepancy between the athlete's reality and the unattainable ideal they see on their screen.

This is a breeding ground for body dysmorphia, physical social anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism.

Consider a young CrossFit practitioner who follows fitness influencers.

Seeing retouched photos showing physiques with an unrealistically low fat percentage year-round, he begins to feel that his own body, despite being functional and strong, is inadequate.

This dissatisfaction can push him toward risky behaviors such as anabolic steroid use or extreme dieting, trying to achieve a digitally fabricated aesthetic standard that has nothing to do with actual athletic performance or health.

Effects of blue light on sleep and melatonin

Nighttime use of mobile devices has a direct physiological impact on sleep quality, a fundamental pillar of recovery.

Screens emit short-wave blue light that the brain interprets as daylight.

This inhibits the secretion of melatonin, the hormone responsible for inducing sleep, delaying the circadian rhythm and reducing the deep sleep phase.

A practical example is that of a sprinter who, the night before a race, stays in bed scrolling through her social networks until the early hours of the morning.

Even if you are physically resting, the light from the screen keeps your brain in a state of biological alertness. As a result, it takes hours to fall asleep and your rest is shallow.

The next day, your reaction time and explosive ability will be impaired, not because of lack of training, but because of technology-induced hormonal disruption.

Sum