In this new era of self-made influencers, social media affects us all more, especially when hidden behind seemingly innocent trends.
There are plenty of aspects of social media that make it an incredibly toxic environment and with most users nowadays being impressionable teenagers, it can be hazardous to their mental health. That’s not to discard its beneficial uses though. There are plenty of good things about modern technology, it’s just a shame that the bad ones mostly outweigh them.
Body image remains a persistent concern for young people, exacerbated by online praise and scrutiny for conforming to certain appearances. But then, a new wave of body-positive influencers emerged, significantly impacting platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for the better.
What Social Media Says About Body Image
Unfortunately, we are more susceptible to online negativity when famous faces we trust disguise them as positive trends. Social media amplifies insecurities, especially regarding body image, creating a potentially harmful combination that affects many individuals profoundly.
Even celebrities have spoken out about disliking social media and its ability to aid anonymous attacks on others. Jonah Hill expressed his stance on people commenting on his body after his weight loss became front-page news. He publicly asked his followers to cease gossiping after receiving numerous hateful and unnecessary comments about his body.
Awareness about body image sparks broader conversations on insecurities but also fuels increased online hate among discussants. And it’s starting to pit groups against each other, even though they ultimately want the same thing.
TikTok users debated fat shaming versus skinny shaming, missing the harm inherent in both forms of body criticism. Many say that they are completely different, but in reality, they are both the same. While the victims of each attack may differ, attackers shame each one for their appearance. And that is never acceptable.
This has prompted a divide between advocates of genuine body positivity and those who endure hate and criticism. So who can we really trust to help the cause on social media? Well, few refrain from using their platform for ad deals or self-promotion, but a handful appear notably unproblematic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JtgLwDV0ic
Youtube and TikTok sensation Glitterandlazers has documented her experience with body image and has proven that looking good is all about feeling good too. She admitted that at her heaviest weight, people treated her completely differently from how they do today, despite still being plus-size. She also hasn’t sold out to companies wanting to profit from her weight loss; instead, she has stayed true to herself and her followers.
TikTok user xobrooklynne has also received a lot of praise for speaking up about the differences between what is edited and what is real on the app. She uploaded a video showing the difference between what had been photoshopped and what was truly her. The 17-year-old has received thousands of hate comments across her videos but she has remained a positive influence on the young children using social media. She has never hidden her imperfections and has always been proud of her body type. This is the sort of social media star we need!
Body positivity isn’t just for plus-size people, a common misconception that can actually do more harm than good. As described by Wikipedia:
Body positivity is a social movement focused on the acceptance of all bodies, regardless of size, shape, skin tone, gender, and physical abilities, while challenging present-day beauty standards as an undesirable social construct.
We should all aim to support everyone in feeling more confident about their body type, regardless of their size or shape. Everyone deserves to be happy and free from abuse, especially when others direct hate at them purely because of their appearance.
