Body Image

Since the introduction of social media into mainstream society, it has played a significant role in impacting body image-related issues for users of these social media sites. It has become routine for users to compare themselves to others that appear on their feed on these sites. However, most images posted on these sites are fabricated and edited to give the user who is posting the image their desired body type. As users of social media, we need to understand the negative impacts of social media on body image and which platforms account for these issues. We can use positive communities and resources to educate ourselves on good accounts to interact with and understand how everything posted on social media is not always the truth. Additionally, readers can discover ways to make the social media climate a positive and uplifting experience for others who interact with them on these sites.

Social Media vs. Reality
The impact of social media on body image has been a growing issue in the past decade as social media platforms continue to develop. Social media allows people all over the world to share content, videos, pictures, and ideas with millions of other users around the globe. The most popular social media platforms are Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, which all share the same primary focus: sharing content of yourself with followers. While the function of these platforms has allowed society to be the most connected it has ever been, it also now accounts for the increase in body image-related issues. Users can upload any picture they wish, with any edits they want to use. As a result, many people can compare themselves to others, without realizing they could be viewing an altered image. It is most popular to edit one’s body to attain the beauty goals that have been established by the social media world. For women, the ideal body has been promoted as an hourglass, Kardashian-like, body, and men are expected to become the perfect ratio of lean and muscular. Viewing “perfect” bodies every time you scroll through a feed can be detrimental to mental health and physical health habits. This is an issue because the majority of the population will not be able to reach the body types of influencers, models, and celebrities. Access to high-end nutrition and equipment, as well as elite trainers, is not guaranteed, and genetics is not often discussed in this matter. Additionally, platforms often populate feeds with users who have these body ideals or have access to means to obtain these goals. The Instagram explore page is flooded with celebrities, high-end living, and “fitspiration and thinspiration” regimens. TikTok "For You" pages are notorious for populating scrolls with beautiful girls in bikinis and fit guys with ripped muscles. Constantly having these standards pushed in your face is why there is an issue with social media affecting body image.

Studies have shown that around 87% of women and 65% of men compare their bodies to the bodies seen on social media. The issue here is that most users do not upload real or unedited photos. Whether it's filtered to enhance eye color, teeth whiteness, skin color, or photoshop to alter body type, almost all content is fixed in some way. For this reason, trends such as “Instagram vs. reality” or “#makeinstacasual” are important for the body positivity movement. Recent studies done on the effect of “Insta vs. Reality” photos suggest that users are less likely to unfavorably view their body after seeing both images side by side. On Tiktok, the beauty filter changes users' faces to fade blemishes, lines, and marks. The constant comparing of ourselves is extremely detrimental to mental health and body image.

Negative Implications: Mental and Physical Health
Body image is a multidimensional concept with four components that apply to individuals with healthy and unhealthy body images due to being active on social media platforms. The four main components of this concept are: Cognitive, perceptual, affective, and behavioral. If the content posted on social media sites negatively affects one of these components, the individual’s body image will also, therefore, be negatively affected.

Body image issues affect both individual’s mental and physical health. The over-evaluation of a person’s weight and shape due to looking at content on social media platforms is a symptom of two primary eating disorders that individuals can develop: Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia. Bulimia is a binge disorder that can be triggered by difficult emotions around an individual’s body image. Primarily, this eating disorder is proven to develop by individuals who are distressed from viewing an image of themselves after seeing beautiful, fit content of people posted on social media platforms. Additionally, Anorexia Nervosa is an emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. This eating disorder similar to Bulimia also develops because of a distorted body image, believing the individual is fat when he or she is severely underweight. This eating disorder also develops from the comparison of fit, beautiful individuals on digital media platforms. Oftentimes, triggers of eating disorders come from posts about workout routines, dieting, and the images of unrealistic ideals of body sizes. Therefore, individuals active on social media are often triggered to engage in eating disordered behaviors. The edited content posted on social media platforms is proven to send a message that There is a plethora of content posted on digital media platforms that are dedicated to promoting “pro-ana” content. These posts encourage eating disorders and normalize unhealthy eating habits. Because the nature of social media lends itself toward comparison, it is a toxic environment for someone struggling with an eating disorder.

Not only can social media affect our physical health, but it can also affect our mental health. Research has shown that obsessive mirror checking increases anxiety levels. Therefore, this in turn causes the perception that individuals are unattractive in comparison to others on digital media platforms. Specifically, An article in Time outlines how an individual’s unfavorable self-concept can lead to other issues due to the excess of editing software of images. Ultimately, higher body dissatisfaction is associated with distress, poor self-concept, and self-esteem, leading to a poorer quality of life.

A study was done to show the negative mental effects that social media has had its users, and more specifically children, demonstrates just how influential social media and society is on causing eating disorders amongst the population. The study was titled, "Thin, Sexy Women and Strong, Muscular Men: Grade-School Children's Response to Objectified Images of Women and Men". The study was performed on elementary school children to see their reactions to photos of skinny and attractive women or men. They showed the children pictures of models and then asked them what they think they would have to do to look like that. Interestingly, the boys made jokes and gave unrealistic responses, whereas the girls said things such as “stop eating” or “eat, but then throw up”. These responses allowed the researchers to conclude that girls are more likely to develop consistent reactions to objectified photos of women and relate it back to their own feelings about their own bodies. The saddest part of this study is that society's pressure on having the "perfect" body has become such a strong standard that it is even having effects on adolescent girls who typically have not even entered the world of social media yet. If this is their response as elementary students it is no wonder so many teenage girls end up implementing these thoughts and developing an eating disorder.

The media exclusively focusing on Caucasians. Thus, a study was conducted examining whether or not ethnicity moderates body dissatisfaction. In this study, there was a group of Caucasian women and African American women. Both groups viewed two sets of slides containing mass media ideals and controls. The groups also created pre-and post-test mood measures. The findings revealed that African American women showed no change in mood following the viewing, whereas Caucasian women reported higher body dissatisfaction. The role of ethnicity and how it can change one's experience is extremely relevant in social media. Many theorize that this study led to these results because African American women are predisposed to body dissatisfaction, having to face underrepresentation in the media.

The app TikTok recently implemented a ban on search terms that were associated with promoting eating disorders and destructive habits. However, people promoting anorexia are misspelling common hashtags to beat the “pro-ana” ban. TikTok has struggled with this dangerous material for a while now, leading it to block content labeled under certain hashtags. But, by misspelling the hashtags, TikTok has become filled with “… communities [that] massively fuel eating disorders” further pushing people into “a cycle where the illness is encouraged, tips are shared, and being sicker is applauded”. Ultimately, a more effective solution has yet to be found. This makes some wonder if TikTok will ultimately be banned from the App Store. Tumblr, an app that faced similar content issues, has been banned from the App Store for about 3 years now.

The Impact of the Pandemic
In just the past year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic body image issues have become a huge problem. Over the initial spring 2020 quarantine, many people started to become less active and experienced fluctuations in body weight, creating body insecurities that may not have existed previously. However, there was also an increased use of social media in the fitness world; as personal trainers and influencers found the best (and only) way to access their audience during the pandemic was through a computer or phone screen, there was a rise in fitness challenges and "quarantine workouts" on TikTok and YouTube. Seeing this influx of fitness videos encouraging people to "stay active" and "lose weight" could have worsened the mental health of people who were already struggling with their body image and isolation in general. As the pandemic continues to plague America, people continue to be exposed to the thin, perfect bodies "produced" by quarantine, maintaining the downward trend in body image and mental health.

During the initial spring lockdown period, individuals' screen time drastically increased due to boredom. Because of this, individuals were much more likely to be exposed to social media content that featured thin or athletic ideals. A research study led by Professor Viren Swami of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) included 506 UK college-aged students. The study found that amongst the male participants, COVID-19 related anxiety and stress were associated with a greater desire for muscularity and anxiety associated with body fat dissatisfaction. In relation to the female participants, the study concluded that feelings of anxiety and stress caused by COVID-19 were associated with a greater desire for thinness, also leading to a significant increase in body dissatisfaction. Ultimately, the impact of the virus itself has knowingly lead to a rise in body image issues because of boredom that leads to an increase of time spent on social media.

Over the past few years, users and creators have begun to see the negative effects social media has on how people are viewing themselves. While these negative impacts are most often associated with teenage girls, it is important to recognize that all ages and genders can experience this issue. This is a widespread issue that will only continue unless platform content changes. Thankfully, companies have begun to conduct studies and initiatives to prevent these impacts. Individual platforms have openly discussed ways they plan to make changes, such as removing hashtags and flagging triggering content. If these platforms can continue to make these positive changes, communities on social media will benefit greatly. Social media has proven to be a top resource for human connection and will continue to grow as technology advances. In order to keep social media platforms a safe space, it will be important for users, creators, and companies to understand what the negative effects of social media can be, and how to effectively prevent them. Working towards positive body image goals and conversations on social media is a large step that can benefit millions of social media users.

Promoting Positivity & Avoiding Negativity
While social media may have some negative implications, there are many ways that users fill their outlets with positive content. For example, social media can act as a social outlet for those that prefer virtual meetings and interactions over face-to-face ones. Additionally, there has been a recent push in the body positivity movement and algorithms that can prevent the spread of dangerous content.

The anxiety that arises because of face-to-face interactions is undoubtedly becoming a more widespread feeling, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic placing more pressure on people for the rare occasion that they leave their house. Furthermore, a lot of people prioritize more comfortable, shallow interactions found through social media. In this way, social media acts as a resource for those that are too anxious or embarrassed to leave their house, it allows these people to socialize without discomfort. In fact, some find that using social media to chat or make plans increases their satisfaction, trust, civic engagements, and gratification.

The body positivity movement has become increasingly more widespread, in part, due to social media. Apps such as TikTok and Instagram have helped to challenge beauty ideals and standards by welcoming diversity in appearance and size. In fact, recent studies have suggested that the body positivity movement has helped individuals feel much more confident and positive about themselves. Encouragement like this has been doing so much to spread generalized acceptance and self-love. this movement has promoted inclusion across races and genders on top of body types all the while cutting back on harmful marketing. Specifically, Instagram has made eating-disorder specific keywords and hashtags unsearchable, and therefore, individuals can focus on healthier representations of his or her body image on digital media platforms. Furthermore, a multitude of social media companies is now looking to sign the Be Real Campaign’s Body Image Pledge to investigate innovative ways of using digital media platforms to promote positive body image and to ensure that a diversity of body types are presented positively to the users.

TikTok has struggled with dangerous eating disorder promotion material for a while now, leading it to block content labeled under certain hashtags. Recently, TikTokers who use well-known pro-ed search terms have been directed to a support page titled “Need Help?”. TikTok was, and still is, looking for a more definitive, long-term solution for the harmful pro-anorexia content that is still easily searchable despite measures taken by the social media company to prohibit weight-loss product advertising. TikTok said that they had taken action to ban harmful phrases across all search verticals and banned six accounts flagged for violating community guidelines. However, they acknowledged that removing content was tricky because some accounts might be pro-recovery.

In relation to the demographic of those affected by body image, there are trends based on a persons given personality. Traits like neuroticism, agreeableness and openness with one’s body image were observed to correlate to a higher rate body image. Meanwhile traits like conscientiousness and extraversion were observed to correlate to lower rates of body image. Overall those deemed perfectionist or anti social had a significant correlation to body image. Using this we can make a prognosis and form due counter measures to prevent thoughts about negative body image.

Body Positivity Influencers and Companies
How to create a body-positive community on your social media platforms.

In today’s realm of social media and digital media use, it is easy to get lost amongst the chaos of the abundant amounts of negative content, especially when it comes to body image. In this section, you will be pointed to many different resources and individuals to follow or support if you wish to be a part of the body positivity movement.

To begin, let's talk business! The fashion industry for the past couple of decades has been building what society terms the “perfect” body type and clothing companies have been playing along with this negative stereotype. However, the rise of new body-positive companies is taking the fashion industry by storm. An article written by Kellie Ell and posted on CNBC News covers all the details of the rise of a body-positive company called Aerie. Aerie’s goal is to market and advertise what they call the “more authentic” women. This movement shares all the same beliefs as the body positivity movement by using unedited (not photoshopped or brushed) images of models of all body shapes, sizes, and colors in all of their marketing campaigns. As stated in the article by Ell, Aerie is not just supporting all women and the body positivity movement, but also gaining market shares and sales by doing so. According to the data, Aerie’s stock has increased 114% in 2018 and is still on the rise now all because of their goal to appear to all women. Not to mention that Aerie not only plays a role in the body positivity movement by selling clothes and marketing for all body types, but also created a body positivity community on social media platforms by starting the hashtag “AerieReal” which influencers use on their pages to promote healthy and unique body images. Using the hashtag, influencers also give tips on how to feel more confident in the body you were given. This positive hashtag can be found on many apps and truly contributes to making social media a more positive space when talking about body image. Therefore, if you are looking for a positive account and company to follow and purchase from to contribute to the body positivity movement, Aerie is definitely one to consider giving your support to.

On another note, who you follow on social media has a great impact on the content you are exposed to, so it is important to follow those who spread positivity and encouragement. The website Verywellmind.com published an article on who they think are 53 of the best body positivity influencers on social media that are worth the follow. Of the 53, the top 3 influencers, rightfully so, were Candice Huffine, Jessamyn Stanley, and Jenny Gaither. Coming in in the number one spot according to verywellmind.com is Candice Huffine. Huffine is a model who turned to run to combat the negative stresses that the fashion industry placed on her; this then caused her to start @PSYouGotThis which is a movement focused on giving tips on how to begin your running journey. Now a marathon finisher, model Huffine says this about body positivity, “There is no magical formula or tutorial I can share about how to become confident in your own skin, but I have learned from experience it all comes from work.” The second influencer noted in the article is Jessamyn Stanley. Stanley is a yoga instructor and writer and believes in the core value that “all women should revel in her strength and beauty.”  Stanley helps women adopt body positivity through yoga by letting it teach them how strong and wonderful their bodies truly are. A quote from Stanley that really stood out in the article was, “Body positivity is the only legitimate antidote to our overwhelming body negative society.” Lastly, there is Jenny Gaither who works in many different ways every day to help build confidence in women. Gaither has done this through her professions of being a wellness coach, SoulCycle instructor, and starting the non-profit—The Movement Foundation. The Movement Foundation is a non-profit that promotes increasing self-worth through fitness, and thanks to its fundraising We Dare to Bare, the non-profit is also able to help promote body positivity and award athletic scholarships to those in need. It is truly important to surround ourselves with positivity, both in the real world and especially on social media. Following the right influencers and supporting body positivity companies is one small way to step out of the realm of an overbearingly negative world.

Why This Matters
Social media is an imperative part of the connection and societal interaction in today’s world, especially for teenagers and young adults. Therefore, understanding the positive and negative effects of social media’s platforms can help individuals interact on social media in a healthy way and in turn, assist in avoid developing eating disorders and mental health concerns. If users take into consideration the amounts of edited pictures and fake information displayed across social media platforms, they can begin to see beyond the filtered world of social media. Throughout this page, there were different sources mentioned as helpful and incentive ways to use social media for positivity. The best way to prevent this issue is to follow accounts that promote positivity and acceptance.

Here are a list of body-positive accounts, influencers, and resources to follow:

Instagram:

@eatingdisorderhope: https://www.instagram.com/eatingdisorderhope/

@effyourbeautystandards: https://www.instagram.com/effyourbeautystandards/

@roseybeeme: https://www.instagram.com/roseybeeme/

@thebirdspapaya: https://www.instagram.com/thebirdspapaya/

TikTok:

Brittani Lancaster: https://www.tiktok.com/@brittanilancaster?lang=en

Sienna Mae Gomez: https://www.tiktok.com/@siennamae?lang=en

Victoria Garrick: https://www.tiktok.com/@victoriagarrick4?lang=en

Gabby Depietro: https://www.tiktok.com/@gibz_?lang=en

Secondly, it is important to contribute to the positivity movement on different platforms. Interacting with Instagram accounts or TikTok creators that promote body positivity is a great way to populate your feed with positive influencers. Additionally, buying products from fashion companies that promote real bodies and are customer supportive is helpful to the body positivity movement.

Here are a list of fashion brands that promote and celebrate all body-types:

Aerie: https://www.ae.com/us/en/c/aerie/cat4840006?mkwid=st

Target: https://www.target.com

Levi's: https://www.levi.com/US/en

Asos: https://www.asos.com/us/women/

Swimsuits for All: https://www.swimsuitsforall.com/

Although there is limited research regarding preventative measures for treatment for negative body image caused by digital media platforms, individuals also suggest: Disconnecting from social media to be active and unfollowing accounts that attempt to sell products associated with their bodies. If individuals do these things, then certain dangers can be avoided such as engaging in an unhealthy lifestyle, developing eating disorders, overexercising, restrictive eating, low self-esteem, and mental health disorders that can occur and develop when someone has a negative body image. These are just a few ways that were found to help users interact with communities on social media that promote body positivity and acceptance.

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