ABSTRACT
The mass media can be said to be the most essential tool in the 21st century mostly due to its level of capacity, ability, convenience, influence and many more, originating from the desire to transmit, share, and disseminate information, to a large heterogeneous audience with varying personality, background, orientations, beliefs, and education, varying provisions and features were put in place in order to make this vision a reality. With these provisions ushered in the age of mass media in the lives of many and it has only snowballed from there, as there are varying genres, niches and categories that it has reached an industry level of recognition with this level of growth, and progress comes the need to harness and control such an concept to the point where it can create the desired outcome for its controllers, with the introduction of the mass media a number of solution has sprouted forth as well as a number of problems, ranging from economical, to political and so many more but it has equally brought in problems pertaining to social problems, one of which is the ideas, flaws, and impact of body image and eating disorder, which will be the primary objective of this research project. With the harnessing of technology for societal cohesion, the research examines how individuals from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds are made subject to the notion of body image and eating disorder, seeking to evaluate the outcomes, results, flaws, and other aspect of the concept. Through a descriptive survey design, data is gathered to gauge the current attitudes of University of Benin students towards body image and eating disorder and assess how these content causes influences. The findings underscore the transformative potential of the mass media. They reveal a rich engagement among individuals from various age groups, ethnicities, and religious affiliations. The data will, showcase the notions and beliefs held by the respondents. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the potential of technology to bridge societal divides and evaluates the importance of mass media as catalysts for social change, either negative or positive. This study offers insights into how the media can facilitate certain beliefs, understanding, and ideas regarding the topic of body image and eating disorders in societies.
