Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of active engagement on social media platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr, on negative body image association among adolescents. The rise of the internet and social media platforms have resulted in an increasing number of issues related to self-esteem negative body image such as detrimental online trends, eating disorders and dangerous pro anorexia websites. This paper will use Leon Festinger’s social comparison theory to discuss the role that social media plays in negative body image. Through exploration of topics based on social media, internet trends, and online communities, this conference paper establishes that there is a direct correlation between active social media engagement and an increase in body dissatisfaction.
The rapid development of web 2.0 is one of the predominant factors influencing the social revolution in our current modern-day society. Platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr have become a significant part of adolescent communities; utilised to share highlights and connect with others online. Whilst these platforms offer benefits, there is also a dangerous side which will be discussed in this conference paper. This conference paper will explore the stream of online networks and social change; arguing that active engagement of online platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr are correlated to the increase of negative body image concerns amongst adolescents in Western societies.
This argument will be supported by discussion of influencers and danger of promoting false ideals of beauty across their online communities. It will also discuss the harmful trends circulating social media which have become a critical element in the increase of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction in the Western society. Lastly, this conference paper will examine at online communities which have stemmed from this social media influence, and discuss the dangers associated with this.
The ideal standard of beauty is not a universal concept, but a social construct. It is narrowly defined and is shaped by sociocultural factors (Boston University School of Medicine, 2019). The emergence of the internet introduced the world to social media platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr, which act as a platform for users to showcase the highlights of their life. These social networks have become a fundamental factor in the structure of today’s society. This shift in society has generated a recent influx of rising social media influencers, who utilize these platforms to create a virtual community and connect with their online followers (Abidin, 2021).
Influencers are internet users who monetise their lifestyle blog by making paid posts on social media to their large online following (Abidin, 2021). They hold the ability to amplify their voices across a large platform of followers; this level of power to influence has led them to be considered as opinion leaders for adolescent internet users (Abidin, 2021). With this power comes great responsibility, as their influence allows them to contribute significantly to reshaping the structure of society.
Western media often depicts beauty as an extremely thin body type; this is showcased across television, magazines and social networking websites (Puglia, 2017). This has significantly contributed to the development of negative self-esteem, resulting in a dangerous rate of body dissatisfaction amongst adolescent women (Puglia, 2017). Research has found that there is a direct correlation between active usage of social networking platforms and body dissatisfaction in adolescents (Fardouly et al, 2015).
An experimental study was conducted which supports the argument that body dissatisfaction is directly associated with a viewing ideal beauty standard in the media. The objective of this meta-analytic review was to assess the effect of viewing images of the thin beauty ideal as portrayed in the media, on adolescents. Researchers retrieved data from twenty-five sources which were analysed to examine the major effects of the media’s portrayal of thin beauty standards online. The study focused on female participants, and took into consideration factors such as their age, pre-existing thoughts on body image and the number of times they were presented with the stimulus (Groesz et al, 2002). The results of this study concluded that the impact of thin beauty ideals on the media were more prominent among females aged under nineteen years. It found that when viewing images of thin women, participants reported a higher rate of body dissatisfaction, in comparison to when they viewed an image of a plus sized model. This demonstrates that exposure to thin beauty ideals on mass media elicits body dissatisfaction (Groesz et al, 2002).
Social networking sites such as Instagram and Tumblr have become an avenue for socio cultural factors to exert influence onto the online community. These sites are a platform for internet users to share images of themselves online and browse through images of others. Instagram and Tumblr act as a highlight reel, presenting only the highlights of an individual’s life. This leads social media users to engage in social comparison which causes low self-esteem and negative body image (Gilhooly, 2020). Research by Leslie Gilhooly found that this form of social comparison tendency serves as a motivating factor to utilise these platforms, although it significantly increases negative thoughts on body image (Gilhooly, 2020).
In 2017, an online movement commonly known as ‘Thinspiration’ first emerged on Tumblr, then began to gain popularity on Instagram when the platform was founded in 2010 (Amon, 2018). Thinspiration refers to images that are used as motivational tools to encourage weight loss and restricted eating (Stoneking, 2018). The thinspiration hashtag consists of thousands of images and videos online which promote messages focused on the desire to conform to this thin ideal (Stoneking, 2018). By searching the hashtag ‘Thinspiration’ on Instagram, users are connected to an influx of similar minded people (Holland et al, 2017). This enables communities to be built on the foundation of this detrimental online trend. Internet users are flooded with images of women promoting flat stomachs, laxative teas, unhealthy diets and emaciated bodies. These images serve as motivation for many adolescent internet users which causes an array of negative impacts and as well as harmful effects both mentally and physically (Stoneking, 2018).
An additional example of a dangerous online movement is the ‘thigh gap’ trend. The thigh gap trend emerged on Instagram after images of thin women with a gap between their thighs were posted and shared online. Although this feature is heavily dependent on individual bone structure (Akerberg, 2018), having a thigh gap quickly became synonymous with being thin, and therefore, attractive. This led to many adolescents restricting their food intake in an aim to achieve a gap in between their thighs, as that is what society deemed as attractive. This is an example of how social media platforms can negatively impact adolescents and encourage social comparison, which can be extremely harmful to developing minds and bodies.
The social comparison theory is an idea stemmed from Leon Festinger in 1954 (Amon, 2018). The theory is based on the idea that self-evaluation processes are derived directly from the need to be evaluated in comparison to another individual (Festinger, 1954).
Social media platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr revolve around the process of sharing images and highlights, which establishes the complete grounds for social comparison (Gilhooly, 2020). Social comparison is one of the major factors resulting in negative self-evaluation and body image issues.
Studies have found that self-comparison to online images is one of the major factors of body dissatisfaction (Lorch, 2017). This is because what users see on Instagram and Tumblr, are often not real, original images. The development of photoshop and filters have made it easy to tweak and edit photographs, enabling users to post fine-tuned, perfected versions of themselves online. This is especially harmful when actioned by influencers who hold a large social following. It causes adolescents to compare themselves to false portrayals of beauty which has made positive body image difficult for many. The pressures to attain to this unrealistic standard of beauty has contributed significantly to body dissatisfaction, which social media platforms hold the power to reinforce.
The internet is home to a phenomenon of online communities. These networks are created to connect strangers who share similar interests or values. Adolescents often join these platforms in an attempt to feel a sense of belonging within a group of members (Amon, 2018). Online communities act as a safe space for individuals to create strong connections with strangers over geographical distance. These hyperconnected communities exist to share and spread knowledge, ideas and influence (Papacharissi, 2011). Boyd describes ‘networked publics’ as publics that have been created by networked media (Boyd, 2010). The content of these pages is often private and created for specific communities. Whilst there are many positive and beneficial forms of online communities, many of these networks can lead adolescents down an extremely dangerous path.
One of the recent problems is the rising of ‘pro anorexia’ online communities. There is a public movement of interactive pages that encourage and promote the illness; centered around the belief that eating disorders are a choice of lifestyle, rather than a disease (Nagourney, 2005). Studies have shown that these pages are frequently visited by adolescents (Nagourney, 2005). They are often well articulated and aesthetically designed, appealing to an adolescent sense of rebellion (Nagourney, 2005). These websites act as an online community where adolescents provide other members with tips on topics such as how to conceal an eating disorder with baggy clothes, how to hide health issues associated with the disease, how to take weight loss medications and tips on how to surpress hunger (Stoneking, 2018). They are home to numerous blogs, inspiration images and microsites which encourage and support those suffering with the disease (Nagourney, 2005).
One example is the web age, ‘myproana.com’. This website requires users to enter their body dimensions and document their weight loss achievements, collaborating with others to encourage and motivate each other. It is an extremely harmful community to be a part of and has been found to hinder the stages of eating disorder recovery (Nagourney, 2005).
It should be noted that for some, these platforms act as a support community, many have hailed these websites to be essential for their wellbeing, however, for the majority of adolescents it acts as a platform for encouragement of self-destructive behaviours.
In conclusion, this conference paper illustrates how social media is a significant part of many adolescents’ lives by examining the effects associated with active engagement on social media. This research explored the dangers of online trends such as ‘thinspiration’ and the ‘thigh gap’, which are examples of movements circulating on social networks causing an overwhelming impact on adolescent internet users. The paper also discussed the dangers of social comparison on the basis of Festinger’s theory, who explains that social comparison plays a key role in evaluation of one’s self-worth. Social media platforms are filled with photoshopped images which portray a false ideal of beauty online. Social comparison to these images initiates unrealistic pressures to appear a certain way, which can cause prevalent feelings of body dissatisfaction, feelings of isolation, and lead adolescents to engage in harmful behaviors such as restricted eating habits. Lastly, this conference paper reviewed the topic of online communities, which act as an avenue for adolescents to be surrounded by like-minded individuals. Pro anorexia websites have become prevalent among the adolescent online network, they act as a foundation for individuals to encourage and produce harmful effects, triggering further issues surrounding negative body image. This conference paper establishes that online platforms hold a magnitude of influence, which demonstrates how powerful social media can be on the adolescent mind. Active engagement of platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr contribute significantly to the pressures that adolescents face to attain an unrealistic expectation of beauty in Western societies.
Reference List
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https://camillaakerberg.com/blogs/news/thigh-gap-aspirations-dont-mind-the-gap
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Hi Eleanor,
I loved reading your paper! Such a pertinent subject!
Body image issues within our modern-day society have escalated so highly.
As you stated “Western media often depicts beauty as an extremely thin body type; this is showcased across television, magazines and social networking websites (Puglia, 2017)”
The way that body image on social media has caused so much uproar on the wellbeing of younger social media users, seeing retouched or unrealistic/unachievable body types is so saddening in our society and really shows how social media reflects real-life ideologies of power and social structure relating to body expectations.
According to Monks, Costello, and Dare “women’s recognition of unrealistic ideals in the media, the potential for harmful social comparisons, their desire to achieve the appearance of health and wellness, and the use of various strategies to modify their exposure to such media and uphold a positive body image”(2021.p. 221).
I think that relating back to Vejetaa Beeharry’s comment on your paper, I think that focusing your argument on one demographic is really smart as it really tightens your argument and what you are trying to say.
I really liked your paper, Eleanor!
Have a great day!
Emma
References:
Monks, H., Leesa, C., Dare, J., & Reid, B. E. (2021). “We’re continually comparing ourselves to something”: Navigating body image, media, and social media ideals at the nexus of appearance, health, and wellness. Sex Roles, 84(3-4), 221-237. doi:http://dx.doi.org.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/10.1007/s11199-020-01162-w
Hi Emma,
Thank you so much for your comment on my paper! Yes definitely, the impact that social comparison can have on someone’s mindset is really saddening and scary. Imagine how much happier people would be if there was no sense of utilising social comparison as an evaluation of ones self with and value. I hope that in the future social media can be used for positive change and our online platforms will gradually become less saturated with altered and edited images. 🙂
Hi Eleanor! Amazing paper, really struck a chord with me.
I absolutely agree that social media plays a very active role in creating idealised body images, especially for adolescents. I found what you wrote about filters/photoshop to be quite interesting. In my own personal experience, filters and effects are a way for me to express myself artistically, as opposed to covering up my a certain insecurity. A lot of people I see use apps such as PREQUEL to create such effects. Additionally, I notice a lot of people use filters through apps such as Colortone to create a “theme” aesthetic for their Instagram feed. Would you argue that this behaviour is separate to other usage of filters and photoshop on social media, or contributing to the issue?
Hi Tom!
Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂 Yes definitely these filters can be used for creative benefit! I think these creative style filters are harmless, however I think the ones that change the shape of your face (nose smaller, eyes bigger, jawline sharper, lips bigger etc) can have significant negative effects, especially when they are used for a long period of time which can make some people feel like they can’t post anything without a filter on! In my opinion, I think using apps like colour tone to enhance the aesthetic of images is harmless, as they only alter the colours, saturation, vibrance etc. Therefore, I do think it’s seperate to photoshop and filters, as these applications work to alter the shape and appearance of someones face or body which I think can be really dangerous both to the individuals self acceptance, as well as to others who view these edited images and compare themselves to it (when it’s altered and not even real!)
Hi Eleanor!
What an insightful paper you have written! With editing, filters, posing and lighting, there are a multitude of ways in which social media can be deceiving. I remember seeing the ‘thigh gap’ being a trend and so many people were posing for photos flaunting that they had one. Only towards the end of that trend was there light brought to the matter, that being that it depends on your body shape/bone structure (correct me if I am wrong, it was some years ago) if you can have one. I have written about the fitspiration trend and its negative impacts, I don’t think we realise the extent of the impacts that these trends have until we look at them more closely.
I have not heard of myproana.com and think that it is so sad that websites encouraging self destructive behaviours exist. I find it sad that people also encourage each other here and teach each other how to conceal their disorders.
Are there any ways you think that adolescents can be assisted in learning about online spaces and how damaging they can be to both their mental and physical health?
Hi Alicia,
Thank you for your comment! Yes I definitely remember that trend! It is so dangerous, because, as you mentioned, it is entirely based on bone structure. I think that trend made many people think they were overweight if they did not have one.. which just doesn’t make any sense. It is scary what these societal pressures can make you believe. I think it would be really beneficially to implement some kind of school program for teenagers as well as primary school aged children. Perhaps bringing in a guest speaker to discuss about body image and self acceptance, and teach children that everything they see online is not always reality. I think it would have been hugely beneficial to have something like this while I was in school.
Hi Eleanor,
I really enjoyed reading your paper and found the pages about ‘pro anorexia’ very interesting as I had never heard of this before. Hearing about this enrages me and it is unbelievable that pages like this are able to be online. I have recently been thinking, after being recommended to watch ‘The social dilemma’ on Netflix, that I should really think about who I follow on social media platforms and how they make me feel. I read an article which highlighted that you need to be aware of who you follow and also to not be afraid to unfollow someone who makes you feel insecure about yourself (Magnolia Creek, 2019). I am definitely going to do a cull of my Instragram following, and look into more accounts which make me feel more positive and confident as I think that is so important when it comes to social media. I know that you mentioned the adolescence age group a great deal, do you think this is the most affected group when it comes to body dissatisfaction?
Hi Jules,
Thank you for your comment on my paper. I agree! Although there are various arguements from both sides regarding the pro anorexia websites, I think it would be extremely detrimental to someones health, and I don’t think these kind of online platforms should be encouraged on the web. That is so interesting that you mention that! I actually saw a post online a while ago which said a similar thing about who you choose to follow online. Are you ‘envy following’ or following because they actually make you feel more positive? After seeing this I realised half of who I followed online were Instagram models and influencers who I was definitely ‘envy following’. I had become used to it but these people were all I saw on my feed! I went through and did a cull, and only kept the accounts which were friends or people who made me feel positive, or educational accounts. It makes a huge difference! I would really recommend doing that! 🙂 I think it is a group which can be most influences and impressionable to societal pressures. While I acknowledge that people of all ages would struggle with body dissatisfaction, I think adolescents are still learning to become more accepting. They are also exposed to a lot of pressures online which I believe are a significant contributing factor to the issue.
Hi Elanor,
This was a very interesting paper to read. I particularly liked how you went into detail about platforms such as; tumblr and instagram to discuss your conference paper, as those sites are particularly known to have a poor reputation for how adolescents, in particular females view themselves.
However, i’d like to hear your thoughts about body positivity influencers, do you think that the messages that they inflict the same impact and emotions as to if a person was to negatively compare themselves to an Instagram model for example?
Hi Allan, thanks for your comment on my post! No, I definitely don’t think that body positivity influencers have the same impact as Instagram model influencers. I think that body positivity influencers have a significantly positive impact online because they go out of their way to show themselves in the most realistic light possible. They often post unedited pictures, write long captions about body positivity, show themselves in posed/unposed pictures to demonstrate the power of angles and much more! I think these kind of influencers are great role models for people on social media to follow.
Hi Eleanor,
I enjoyed reading your paper and the topic was really interesting. Though, the topic was focused on only one demographic, I think along with adolescents, others are also affected with the unrealistic body image portrayal on social media platforms. With technology advancements, photoshop is so seamless that they seem real and the viewers, being adolescents, are easily influenced and affected by it. The result is that they face mental and physical problems such as depression and eating disorder. As I mentioned in my own conference paper, hashtags can be one way to demote the unrealistic body image and promote natural and more realistic portray of physique, what else do you think can be used to decrease body dissatisfaction?
Here is a link of my paper which is about unrealistic body image and facial appearance on social media platforms:
https://networkconference.netstudies.org/2021/2021/04/26/unrealistic-body-image-and-facial-appearance-on-social-media/
Hi Vejetaa,
Thank you for your comment on my paper. Yes, I definitely agree that this issue affects many people across different demographics! However, I think adolescents are most affected due to their level of engagement with social media in comparison to older people, as many older people don’t use social media as much as the younger generation (for example people aged 40+ would have less exposure to photoshopped images/facetune/filters on social media).
In response to your question, I think people posting edited/unedited pictures side by side is a great way to show ‘real’ images online. I know that when I see images like this, it makes me feel better because I realise that a lot of what you see is all in the angles, poses, filters etc. I think this is a good way to help decrease the issue of body dissatisfaction online.
Hi Eleanor!
What an interesting essay, I really enjoyed reading this. This topic is extremely relevant, especially today, with the amount of exposure we have on social media. I myself, have fallen into the trap of body dissatisfaction due to the exposure and information put out on social media by all of these so-called influencers.
I agree with your point on social comparisons and how this causes us more harm than good as they need to look a certain way or to conform to the ‘beauty standards’ shown online have pressurized people to want to look that way. With the advancement of technologies, apps such as FaceTune have become a vital app when influencers want to post photos of themselves and I think this gives the followers and users the wrong impression and idea of how beauty should be.
Often we are taught to embrace who we are, with our imperfections and flaws, however, with people using apps to eliminate their flaws and post photos of themselves looking almost ‘perfect’, this contradicts the messages we’ve been taught and would lead to mental health issues and eating disorders like you’ve mentioned.
With the technological development and the awareness, people now have on body image ideals, do you think the tendency to promote unattainable body images will decrease?
Hi Saranya, thanks so much for your comment!
Yes, it is definitely hard to ignore pressures to look a certain way when we are constantly confronted with these kind of manipulated images online! Even if consciously try to change our mindset and be fully accepting of ourselves, I think there are always going to be moments when we doubt or question ourselves and compare ourselves to others. It’s certainly hard to remember that everything online is not necessarily reality! In response to your question, I think the increase of awareness is changing this issue in a positive light! People are more educated on false portrayals of beauty online now. There are many influencers/celebrities/regular people being open about posing, editing, and all the tricks used online. I think that when people are more open like this, it flows on to others and makes others feel more accepted too. I think unattainable body image standards are already. decreasing, hopefully it continues on like this!
Hi Eleanor! Your paper is very intersting and it brings up really important issues regarding the unrealistic beauty standards our society sets on young women especially. However, have you thought about how maybe social media may not be the only medium to blame? Magazines, movies and television shows from many eras have displayed unrealistic beauty standards for women too. Do you think there should be some education around this issue so that younger generations don’t fall into the same comparison trap we have? Or do you think it is a societal issue that is just going to be a part of life like it has been for so many years?
Hi Leone,
Yes I definitely agree with you on that point. All media platforms can have some form of influence; I think before social media, magazines were definitely the predominant cause of this kind of insecurity. Social media has the ability to spread across a wide network at a rapid pace, which is a major factor of it’s ability to reach and influence, but magazines, especially in the past were known for excessive photoshopping and altering of original images. I do think there should be some kind of education on this topic. Perhaps they should discuss this in schools or have special visitor speakers to come and talk to students about this. I think it is very different now, people have become more aware and open about photoshopping and false ideals of beauty. It’s even become a trend on Tik Tok to show side by side images of a posed and non posed body, showing that everything is not always what it seems on social media! I think this is a big step in the right direction, as people are becoming more accepting and body positive. But there is still a lot to be done, as there are still many people who struggle with comparing themselves to false ideals, especially the younger, more impressionable generation.
Hi Eleanor, I found your argument interesting on how influencers and the use of social media has lead to a lack of originality, how everything can be face tuned or faked for the cameras, and how this particular action is creating false standards of beauty and pressuring adolescents into partaking in the same actions for validation. Do you feel as though these social constructs of what people see as “beauty” and the comparative nature of social media sites is causing teens mental health problems or do you believe teens seek comfort in following along with these influencers and beauty standards as an escape from their own reality?
Hi Bonnie, thank you for your comment! Yes, I definitely think that pressures from this false ideal of beauty is a major cause of mental illness in teenagers as well as people in adulthood. I believe that social media encourages social comparison, even subconsciously for some people. This kind of comparison can be dangerous especially when teenagers are comparing themselves to photoshopped or edited images online which really look nothing like the original image. It’s scary to think about! Perhaps it should be monitored in some way..