The positive power of being unedited online

As soon as she arrives home from school, 14-year-old Nika instinctively reaches for her phone. Over the next couple of hours, she will diligently respond to messages on Snapchat, her primary means of staying in touch with her friends. After this, Nika will immerse herself on TikTok, where she estimates she spends roughly five hours each day. While scrolling through her For You page, she will see ‘relatable’ content about school and typical teenage life, alongside an array of attractive individuals posting lip-syncing videos. Talking to dara & co, she says: “I’m not gonna lie, [social media] made me a little bit insecure. Even before going to school, I feel like I have to put on makeup so I don’t feel self-conscious around people. So people won’t think I’m ugly or anything.”

According to a 2023 report by Ofcom, 88% of UK children and teens aged three to 17 who go online visit YouTube, and about half use TikTok and Snapchat. By their nature, these platforms are image-centric, designed around sharing, displaying and interacting with images and visual content. Other examples are Instagram and Pinterest – platforms where the core feature is that users can post, discover, and engage with photos and videos. Dating apps focused profile pictures, like Tinder, fall under this umbrella too.

With social media permeating almost every aspect of our modern life from our early days, our screens are flooded with images that often promote unrealistic beauty standards. But what exactly is happening when we scroll through our feeds, and how does it affect our perception of our bodies?

The effect of social media on body image

Image-centric platforms offer an outlet for showcasing but also comparing our appearance. According to the digital marketing agency Omnicore, there are over 2 billion monthly active users on Instagram alone. With the millions of photos and videos uploaded to these apps daily, it’s no wonder that physical appearance takes centre stage.

The obsession with appearance isn’t just limited to the professionals. Ordinary users, too, contribute to this culture by sharing selfies and images that focus on physical looks. Communities and shared spaces, which can be easily accessed through hashtags, can lead to heightened internalisation of beauty ideals and body image concerns. One example is ‘fitspiration’ or ‘fitspo’, an online phenomenon where individuals are encouraged to pursue fitness ideals through motivational quotes, workout videos, and images of healthy foods and ideal bodies.

While it sounds like a push towards health and fitness, content analyses have revealed a number of problematic themes in these spaces, including a central focus on thinness and weight loss, exercising for appearance rather than function, and objectification of the body. All of these have been associated with negative outcomes for body image.

Nika told dara & co that she herself fell into this trap. “There was this trend, it was like a Chloe Ting thing,” she says, referring to Chloe Ting, a fitness influencer with almost 25 million YouTube subscribers. The challenge was to get abs in two weeks using Ting’s viral workout. “Over quarantine, people would show their results. So I tried it because they look so good.”

But what makes social media so uniquely powerful is that it is also intensely personal. Unlike traditional media, content is tailored to our interests as perceived by an algorithm and our own self-selected audience filters. This personalised content often includes posts from our peers, making it easier to compare ourselves with them. We see carefully curated, idealised versions of their lives, which may make us feel inadequate in comparison.

It doesn’t help that metrics such as ‘likes’ and comments permeate the social media experience, which can be particularly impactful for teenagers seeking social acceptance. The quest for validation through likes and comments can be overwhelming, as our brains are highly sensitive to social rewards and rejection.

How to safeguard your social media experience

Countless studies have delved into the negative impacts of these platforms on body image, but are there ways to make your social media experience a more positive one? Here are some research-backed strategies that can help you protect your body image while staying connected online.

Embrace body diversity

Have you ever noticed that the images of fashion models on social media tend to conform to a narrow definition of beauty? Research from the University of Queensland’s School of Psychology suggests that exposure to more diverse body types can actually have a positive impact. When participants in this study viewed average-sized fashion models, they reported increased positive body image. The takeaway? Populate your feed with profiles and hashtags that celebrate body diversity.

Explore body-positive content

In a 2019 study by Australian researchers, exposure to ‘body positive’ images led to improved mood, body satisfaction and body appreciation among women. Plenty of social media accounts and online communities showcase individuals proudly embracing their unique bodies and can serve as a source of inspiration and positivity. However, when engaging with the body positivity movement, it’s important to be aware of the potential downsides of its ongoing focus on the body as the core determinant of self-esteem.

Encourage authenticity

Psychology Today reports that consumer expectations for brands are increasing, with many now expecting businesses to represent issues they care about. Online, the story is the same, with the deinfluencing trend shaking up the influencer industry.

Some advertising campaigns have taken a step in the right direction by featuring unaltered images of models. Separate 2019 studies in the US – from the BISH lab (focused on body image, sexuality and health) and the APPEAR research group (an applied psychology programme for eating and appearance studies) – found that these campaigns not only protected body image but were also seen as helpful in promoting positive body image among women.

By supporting and engaging with campaigns and influencers who prioritise authenticity over photo editing, you too can contribute to a more body-positive online community.

While these strategies can help you foster a more positive body image, it’s essential to remember that everyone’s journey is different. What works for one person may not work for another. Be patient with yourself and recognise that building a healthier relationship with your body takes time.

By being mindful of the content you consume and actively seeking out positivity and diversity, you can transform your social media experience into a source of inspiration and self-love. So go ahead, take charge of your digital world and make it a place that celebrates your authentic self.