Social media has become an integral part of young people’s everyday lives, exerting a significant influence on their self-esteem and body image. The aim of this study was to explore how social media usage patterns, filter use, and online self-representation affect young adults’ body image and attitudes toward lifestyle changes. Primary data collection was conducted through an online, anonymous questionnaire among students of the University of Debrecen (N = 575). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 27 software, applying descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney and Chi-square). The results indicate a significant relationship between body image disturbance and both the amount of time spent on social media (p = 0.000) and the use of photo-editing tools (p = 0.011). Participants with body image disturbance edited or modified their photos more frequently, while their posting frequency did not differ significantly from that of participants without body image disturbance. Individuals experiencing body image disturbance were more likely to attempt lifestyle changes (79.9%) than those in the control group (54.6%), with body shaping (83.9%) and weight loss (65.7%) being the most common motivations. The findings highlight that social media use is closely linked to body image perception and lifestyle behavior among young adults. Based on these results, it is recommended to strengthen media literacy and promote critical awareness of edited and idealized online content. Developing educational programs that foster realistic body image and healthy self-esteem may also help mitigate the negative impacts observed in this study. Furthermore, interventions aimed at reducing appearance-based social comparison and encouraging balanced, health-oriented lifestyle motivations—rather than weight-focused goals—could play a crucial role in preventing body image disturbances and supporting young people’s mental well-being.

JEL Codes: I10; I12; I19