General Article Women can build positive body image by controlling what they view on social media

Topic Selected: Body Image Book Volume: 375
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It is possible to limit your bombardment with images of bodies that feel way out of reach – so choose wisely who you follow. hannah grace / unsplash, CC BY

Rachel Cohen, University of Technology Sydney; Amy Slater, University of the West of England, and Jasmine Fardouly, Macquarie University

Social media use is often described as being problematic for mental health and body image. But is all social media use bad?

Our new research shows that viewing body positive Instagram content may actually improve women’s body image, at least in the short term.


Read more: The ideal female body type is getting even harder to attain


With more awareness, social media users might be able to curate a social media environment that promotes positive body image by unfollowing or blocking idealised accounts, and following more body positive accounts – possibly including more Celeste Barbour – on Instagram.

Celeste Barbour runs an account on Instagram where she parodies the images celebrities ...

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