Internalized media ideals encourage and inhibit adolescents' sexualized online self-presentation.

Sexualization has become commonplace in mainstream media as well as on social media. The question arises whether exposure to sexualization in mainstream media relates to the way youth present themselves online. The current study used a multi-method approach by combining survey research with content analytical data of Facebook profile pictures. Results showed that exposure to MTV reality shows, but not magazines, related to adolescents' sexualized self-presentation on Facebook. Furthermore, internalization of appearance ideals mediated this association in two opposing ways. Specifically, internalization of appearance ideals was positively related to sexualized self-presentation Facebook. However, internalization of appearance ideals was negatively associated with online self-sexualization through body dissatisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]