In a recent study published in psychological journal Computers in Human Behavior, researchers discovered that the way young women interact with Instagram — whether by just browsing or actively posting self-images — has varying impacts on how they perceive their bodies, depending largely on their racial background.
Instagram, the popular photo-sharing app, has often been flagged as a platform for possibly fostering body image issues, especially among young women. The picture-based platform promotes visual content that could encourage its users to frequently compare their own appearances with others. Such interactions, over time, could potentially lead to dissatisfaction or other negative feelings about one’s own body.
This new research was ignited by an observation that not all Instagram users might be affected in the same way. The team sought to explore whether there were differences in body image perceptions based on racial backgrounds, factoring in Instagram usage patterns.
To investigate this, the researchers surveyed a diverse group of 533 people — all of whom identified as a woman, were U.S. citizens, and had an Instagram account. Recruitment, which was completed through websites like Reddit and Prolific or extra-credit offers at southwestern universities, was narrowed down to United States-based individuals only, as it allowed research to be framed in a U.S.-based context. The sample primarily composed of White, Latina, Black, and Asian women.
The participants were asked about their Instagram use — specifically how frequently they engaged in activities such as browsing posts or sharing images of themselves. They were also queried about how they felt towards their own bodies, using carefully crafted statements to gauge feelings of body appreciation or dissatisfaction. Statements were rooted in identifying how curvy participants wanted to be, how much fat they wanted to have, and how dissatisfied with their body they were overall (i.e. hair texture, complexion, body proportions, etc).
The results were nuanced. For Latinas and White women, actively posting images of themselves was more closely linked to how they internalized societal beauty standards. Contrastingly, for Asian-American and Black women, it was simply using Instagram, not necessarily posting self- images, that showed a significant connection. Specifically, Asian-American participants who internalized these beauty ideals showed a preference for a thinner body type, while Black participants showed a preference for a curvier figure.
Overall, across all racial groups, increased internalization from social media was tied to greater body dissatisfaction and reduced body appreciation.
As with any study, it is crucial to acknowledge any limitations. Firstly, the cross-sectional nature means it captures only a snapshot in time, rather than observing changes or patterns over a longer duration. The reliance on self-reported data also leaves room for potential inaccuracies or biases in the participants’ responses. There’s also the matter of uneven sample sizes among racial groups, which might influence the overall results.
The study, “Instagram influences: An examination of the tripartite influence model of body image among a racially diverse sample of young-adult women“, Heather Gahler, Leah Dajches, Larissa Terán, Kun Yan, and Jennifer Stevens Aubrey.