Image by Stock Snap from Pixabay
Written By: Emily Brubaker
The impact of social media in our society cannot be ignored, particularly concerning how it affects our perception of body image. It is common for young individuals, especially women, to be constantly bombarded with images of bodies that are perfect and idealized on various social media platforms. This content exposure can effect one’s own body image. Instagram is definitely one of the most popular social media platforms out there. With every post, comes the potential for likes and comments, which has its effects.
Comments provide positive and negative feedback on oneself, which can significantly impact self-esteem and confidence. Additionally, viewing other people’s statements makes it easy to compare oneself to others and rely on them to form an opinion about oneself. Studies have shown that comments can encourage a particular message, that ultimately wasn’t its main intent. There comes a point when all the comments can become overwhelming, and it’s important to know when to take a break.
The research conducted by Hye Min Kim (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/1461444820956368) delves into the influence of comments on body images, putting forward three hypotheses that examine how viewers respond to both positive and negative comments on social media. The study highlights the impact that comments can have on our perception of our own bodies. In Kim’s study, participants were randomly assigned to one of three Instagram body postings: “(1) with comments that are favorable or (2) unfavorable to the depicted body, or (3) without any comment.”
As a frequent user of Instagram, I find myself often scrolling through the comments of the people I follow. It’s almost like a reflex at this point. But then I stop and wonder, how do these comments shape my perception of myself and my experience on Instagram? Do they make me feel better or worse about myself?
Through the research, comments are shown to be more impactful when users can see other comments, relating those pictures to their own ideals. Social media’s impact on body image is often perceived as unfavorable, but personal identification with our bodies is the true determinant.
The research identifies that the type of comments one looks at can ultimately affect the viewer’s body perception. Positive feedback on body postings may have the power to mitigate body image concerns by helping viewers adopt a broader conceptualization of beauty standards and fostering body appreciation. On the contrary, negative comments dealing with a similar body type can damage one’s body image.
As a woman in my twenties, I frequently engage in conversations with my peers regarding the negative impact of social media on our self-image. Given my active use of various social media platforms, discussions often revolve around removing pictures due to feelings of shame or turning off likes and comments. These conversations reflect a broader trend among women in my age group and underscore how social media can impact our perceptions of our bodies.
I want you to think back to scrolling on social media, whether that was yesterday, two days ago, or three minutes ago. And if you looked at any comments on either your own or someone’s else how did it make you feel? Did it make you think about yourself differently? Do you want those comments to be about you? It is normal for you to feel different about your body image on social media because that is what we have trained our minds to do.
Overall, it’s essential to set boundaries to avoid negative body idealization. One suggestion is to turn off likes and comments, especially if they make you have a negative impact on your body. It’s also a good idea to unfollow accounts that constantly make you feel like you are comparing yourself to them, and viewing their comments negatively yourself. You can take control of when Instagram comments are too much for you.