The research, experiments, testimonials, and our own emotions do not lie: consuming social media has a negative effect on body images across demographics. The constant promotion in media of the "thin ideal" leaves us comparing celebrities and influencers to ourselves, wishing our bodies could look like theirs. In reality, most of these "skinny legend" pictures are heavily photoshopped, filtered, or do not tell the whole story. Instead of realizing the flaws in media and disregarding the praise given only to skinny bodies, we scroll through Instagram in a haze of comparison and self-hatred. Social media emphasizes external validation through liking and commenting, a factor contributing to negative body image when we see that the most likes and comments go towards the hot, skinny, "hashtag fitspo" women on Instagram or Tiktok. But I wouldn't be a media scholar if I chose not to dig deeper, in order to find out how we can combat this toxic comparison and make social media a more engaging and positive place to spend our time. Here are some suggestions, from both me and Business Insider, below:
Follow Body Positive Content Creators: According to Business Insider, "advocates of body positivity and influential figures definitely have a unique ability to make a positive impact on how people view themselves and their bodies, especially when it comes to young people" (6), a realization that can really change social media consumption. If we choose to follow less celebrities promoting fad diets and praising skinny bodies, then social media becomes a negative place as we compare ourselves to unrealistic beauty standards. If we choose to expand our feed and follow creators promoting realistic, healthy bodies and good eating habits- then we can find positive communities and acknowledge the good within ourselves. An example of such a creator is Brittani Lancaster, a Tiktok influencer promoting healthy eating as she recovers from her eating disorders. Brittani emphasizes loving and rocking the body you have, with her constant reassurances that we are all beautiful.
Build a Body Accepting Community: In addition to the people we follow, we define our social media usage by the communities we interact with. Downloading body positive apps, joining body positive support groups online, or following healthy hashtags on social media (such as healthybody or innerbeauty) can connect us with others also trying to promote healthy and loved bodies. Interacting with realistic, healthy influencers and communities "can help shift your mindset about "ideal" body types" (10).
Take A Break: Sometimes, stepping away from scrolling through "perfect" images can be a welcome relief. When I feel overwhelmed or stuck in comparison cycles to the perfect women on social media, sometimes putting down my phone really helps me re-center and refocus on realistic standards before I choose to engage in media again. There's no shame in putting down social media to maintain a healthy relationship with the online world and with yourself. If we can choose to scroll mindfully and disengage when we feel less-than, we can interact with social media in a more positive way.
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