Body Positivity on Social Media: TikTok & Instagram Study

Introduction

Social media has been known to have a significant impact on individuals' mental health, often associated with negative effects. However, it is important to consider the potential positive role that social media can play in fostering a healthy relationship with one's own body. If they watch and follow the right content, individuals may be empowered to develop a better body image and challenge societal pressures related to body ideals. In contrast to the unfeasible and derogatory content that often perpetuates unrealistic expectations, consuming body positivity content can be a more constructive approach toward self-acceptance and personal growth.

Previous research has highlighted the detrimental effects of social media on body image, including exercise addiction, body dissatisfaction, appearance-related anxiety, depressive symptoms, and excessive control of eating habits (Ferrara & Yang, 2015; Rounsefell et al., 2020). Moreover, individuals who post content on popular social media sites face the pressure of being constantly watched, which can affect their own acceptance of their bodies. The rise of fitspiration content on social media has further revealed distressful themes associated with body image and eating disturbances, excessive exercising, and the misuse of supplements (Cataldo et al., 2021).

On the other hand, social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become avenues for promoting and appreciating healthy content related to body positivity (Tylka et al., 2023). These platforms offer a space where content creators focus on diverse aspects of health, encompassing mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Research has indicated that emphasizing body functionality — rather than solely focusing on external appearance — can reduce weight stigma and increase body positivity. Additionally, positive verbalization and social media interventions have shown potential for improving body image and fostering self-esteem.

During adolescence, a vulnerable period for developing self-image and body appreciation, the influence of social media becomes particularly crucial. Puberty-related weight gain often leads to body dissatisfaction and obsessive dieting behaviors aimed at controlling and altering physical appearance. However, social interventions through well-planned programs on social media can support adolescents' self-esteem and emotional well-being, promoting positive self and body image (Tylka et al., 2023).

While acknowledging the potential positive impact of body positivity content on social media, it is important to consider the limitations of existing research. Methodological, statistical, and theoretical limitations may affect the generalizability and validity of findings. Ethical considerations must also be taken into account, particularly regarding vulnerable populations and the implications for diverse individuals.

The topic of body positivity and its impact on individuals' body image is therefore of significant importance in today's society. Having become influential channels that can shape individuals' perceptions of their bodies, social media platforms hold considerable power. Although research has highlighted the negative effects of social media on body image, there is also potential for social media to promote body positivity and self-acceptance (Tylka et al., 2023). This study aims to explore the impact of body positivity content on individuals' body image perceptions through the popular social media platforms TikTok and Instagram.

Past research provides a strong theoretical background for this study. Alleva et al. (2021) emphasize the reduction of weight stigma by appreciating another person's body functionality. Cataldo et al. (2021) highlight the psychopathological risks associated with fitspiration content on social media. Golan et al. (2013) discuss the effectiveness of interventions in enhancing positive self and body image among adolescents. Khattab (2020) explores body representation and self-comparison on TikTok. Schmidt et al. (2022) examine body image disturbance and associated pathologies among gay and heterosexual men. Tanck et al. (2021) examine the effects of positive and negative verbalization on eating pathology and body image. Finally, Ferrara and Yang (2015) investigate emotional contagion in social media, demonstrating the influence of positive and negative emotions.

Building upon this previous research, the purpose of this study is to assess the impact of body positivity content on individuals' body image perceptions. The hypothesis is that exposure to curated body positivity content on TikTok and Instagram will lead to improvements in participants' body image, including increased comfort, happiness, and satisfaction with their bodies, a reduced tendency to compare, and a positive impact on overall self-perception. Through an examination of the effects of body positivity content, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of social media's potential positive influence on body image and self-acceptance.

Method

The variables in this study include the independent variable of exposure to body positivity content — manipulated at two levels: body positivity content versus random content — and the dependent variable of participants' body image perceptions. Body image perceptions will be measured through quantitative ratings of comfort, happiness, satisfaction with their bodies, tendency to compare, and the impact of their bodies on overall self-perception.

Body image content refers to any visual or textual material that pertains to the perception and evaluation of one's own body. It typically encompasses various forms of media — such as images, videos, articles, and social media posts — that portray and discuss aspects related to body size, shape, appearance, and beauty standards. Body image content can range from promoting positive body acceptance, self-love, and inclusivity to perpetuating unrealistic beauty ideals, body shaming, and negative self-perception. In the context of this study, body image content specifically refers to content that promotes body positivity and aims to improve individuals' body image perceptions, sourced exclusively from social media platforms.

The participants in this study will consist of 100 college students (50 males and 50 females) from a large public college in the Northeast United States, within the age range of 17 to 24 years old. The sampling method will involve a convenience sample recruited from the undergraduate research participant pool. Participants will be compensated for their time with a $10 Amazon gift card.

To measure participants' body image perceptions, a survey will be administered. The survey will include items related to the variables of interest: rating scales for comfort, happiness, satisfaction, tendency to compare, and the impact of their bodies on self-perception. The survey will be designed specifically for this study and will undergo piloting and validation to ensure reliability and validity.

The first measure is a scale of 1 to 10 — with 1 being very bad and 10 being very good — rating how participants feel about their bodies (body image). The second measure is a questionnaire consisting of two open-ended questions that will yield qualitative feedback regarding participants' feelings about their sense of body image before and after using social media.

Participants will be recruited from the undergraduate research participant pool at the college. They will be provided with information about the study and its purpose and will be required to provide informed consent before participating. They will be informed about the nature of the study, their rights as participants, and the confidentiality of their data. Before exposure to the content, participants will complete a pre-assessment survey measuring their baseline body image perceptions, rating their level of comfort, happiness, and satisfaction with their bodies, their tendency to compare, and the impact of their bodies on their self-perception using the provided rating scales.

At the start, participants will be divided into two groups. One group will be exposed to curated body positivity content on TikTok and Instagram, while the other group will be exposed to random popular videos on these platforms unrelated to body positivity (e.g., cat videos). Participants will use iPads to view the content individually.

After exposure to the content, participants will complete a post-assessment survey measuring their body image perceptions following the content exposure. They will rate their level of comfort, happiness, and satisfaction, their tendency to compare, and the impact of their bodies on their self-perception using the same rating scales.

The collected data will be analyzed using a paired-samples t-test to compare the pre- and post-assessment scores of body image perceptions, determining whether there are significant differences between the two groups in terms of changes in body image perceptions.

Participants will also have the opportunity to provide qualitative feedback on their experiences and any improvements in their body image perceptions. This qualitative data will be analyzed thematically to gain deeper insights into participants' subjective experiences.

The study will adhere to ethical guidelines regarding participant confidentiality, informed consent, and data protection. The research team will ensure that participants' rights and well-being are prioritized throughout the study. Through this methodology, the study aims to gather data on the impact of body positivity content on individuals' body image perceptions and contribute to the understanding of social media's potential positive influence on body image and self-acceptance.