A study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior suggests that long-term Instagram use may affect not only how people perceive their appearance, but also deeper mechanisms involved in self-awareness—particularly the brain’s ability to recognize one’s own body and face as belonging to oneself.

The research, led by Giuseppe Riva of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, introduces the hypothesis of “digital erosion of bodily identity.”

According to this theory, years of exposure to filtered images, selfies, and standardized digital representations may gradually blur the boundaries between the perception of oneself and that of others.

The study involved 95 young adults with an average age of about 26 who had been using Instagram for nearly eight years on average. Participants underwent virtual reality experiments, including so-called “body illusions,” in which synchronized visual and sensory stimuli can temporarily create the feeling that another person’s body or face belongs to the participant.

The findings revealed a dose-dependent effect: the longer individuals had used Instagram, the more likely they were to perceive another person’s face as their own under illusion conditions. The effect was particularly pronounced for facial recognition, a key component of personal identity.

The authors note that the brain constructs the sense of self through the continuous integration of internal bodily signals and external information. Disruptions to this process may weaken the feeling of ownership over one’s body and increase vulnerability to various psychological conditions, including eating disorders, depression, and dissociative symptoms.

However, the researchers emphasize that the study does not prove that Instagram directly harms mental health. Instead, it points to a possible association between long-term social media use and fundamental processes involved in self-perception.