#BodyPositive: A qualitative exploration of young people's responses to body positive social media content

Abstract

Body positive social media content has been suggested to be more helpful to body image as compared to mainstream idealized images. However, body positive content is heterogeneous, and the processes underpinning the effects of body positive social media content on body image are not well understood. The aim of this study was to qualitatively examine variations in reactions to different types of body positive images among young people and their perceptions of the underlying processes. A sample of n=33 people, 67% cisgender women, aged 14-25, mean (SD) = 19.6 (2.57) years, were interviewed. Thematic analysis revealed that body positive content highlighting the unrealistic nature of social media and inclusive in its broad portrayals of beauty were evaluated as most helpful. Two main processes were identified: (1) the broadening of understandings of beauty and greater inclusivity; and (2) the modeling of positive body image and active resistance to appearance ideals. However, these effects may vary according to content creators' characteristics as well as individuals' own body image concerns and their perceived proximity to those portrayed. Additional work across age, gender, and other identities is warranted to identify the most useful types of content for different individuals.

Keywords: Body image; Body positivity; Gender; Individual characteristics; Processes; Social media.