Social Networks and Minors: Repercussions of Influencer Advertising on Food and Body Care in Peruvian Minors
摘要
The Internet and social media were organically introduced into the lives of minors, but over time that exposure has become indiscriminate, at increasingly earlier ages, with ever longer use periods, and therefore more dangerous. Social media is now regularly used by minors, which means more exposure to influencer advertising focused on nutrition and body care. In light of this, minors are vulnerable, as their abilities to recognize the advertising nature of messages are limited, especially when messaging involves hybridization. This lack of ability prevents minors from adopting critical attitudes toward advertising content about food and body care, which can be harmful to health, mood, and well-being. This research analyzes the impact of influencer advertising about body care and eating habits on the physical self-perception and mood of minors aged 11–17 in urban Peru. Using a quantitative methodology, a nationally representative survey was applied to 1,020 minors. Studying the data included a bivariate dependency and correlational analysis. Results show that influencer advertising focused on body care and food has harmful effects on the physical self-perception and state of mind of minors, with image-focused media being the ones that disseminate most ads on these topics and have the greatest impact.