Body Positivity: The Social Media Struggle
Addison Rae has to stop twerking to a song about eating disorders.
by CHLOE HECHTER ★ JULY 14, 2020
Credit: Tenor
Growing up in the digital age means that our fingers are doing more aimless scrolling through our feeds and less flirtatious twirling around a phone cord—sorry Marcia Brady! But sometimes we have to wonder, maybe the idea of not being able to see what was on the other side of our phones made for simpler times. While social media has opened our eyes to a world of new information, it also opened up an entirely new window for girls to do the Ever Forbidden Girl Thing: comparing ourselves to others.
Credit: VSCO
Instagram is a place of sharing photos of your friends, your dog, and of course, your brand new bathing suit. Posting photos that show off our bodies is almost a trend at this point, and while the comments might read “MY STUNNING BESTIE” and “QUEEN SH*T” (real comments courtesy of my Insta, by the way), feeling the societal pressure of being that vulnerable for such a large audience brings up a host of insecurities concerning body image in young women. We’re constantly exposed not only to our friends and our peers, but to models and influencers who are paid to flaunt their figures and promote new clothing, workouts, and diet supplements—so how are we supposed to feel secure about ourselves when all we see on social media is an objective beauty standard?
Credit: Pinterest
A recent study of women between the ages of 18 and 25 shows a direct correlation between body image concerns and the use of Instagram, according to the National Eating Disorder Association. Women in this age group tend to gravitate toward posts that are categorized as “fitspo” or “weight loss journeys,” and are quick to define their worth based upon how many likes or comments their posts receive, or how their body compares to someone else’s. So there it is again: that ever-loathed, ever-dreaded comparison. The thought that the girl who gets more likes than you is automatically hotter, thinner, prettier…
A university survey of female students reported that they tend to negatively compare their own appearance with those of their peers and female celebrities, further raising awareness of the toxic and overwhelming pressure to keep up with celebs or else, I don’t know, we’ll fall off the face of the earth or something? TikToker and dancer Addison Rae has recently been under a lot of scrutiny by other TikTok users for doing a fun and casual dance to the song “Prom Queen” by the band Beach Bunny, which includes lyrics such as “shut up, count your calories” and “they say beauty makes boys happy // I’ve been starving myself.” Although Addison Rae did not mean any harm by this video, she was certainly put into question because of it. Not only do videos like this quite literally promote and glorify eating disorders, but it plants the idea in the minds of her audience—which consists largely of tweens and young girls—that you should be counting calories.
Body dysmorphia and disordered eating have taken a toll on WAY too many girls in the high school and college-age demographic, and this has only intensified in the digital era. I’m always the first to admit that I’m guilty of cracking jokes about replacing meals with mint gum and iced coffee, but these jokes are rooted in insecurity due to the normalization of my body being constantly under microscopic observation. My girlfriends and I discuss this issue constantly; in fact, in response to recent discussions about achieving the body type advertised by the “Insta Baddie” trend, my friend said, “I can send you my Peloton and My Fitness Pal stats from the past month...lol.”
“Guide to Becoming an Instagram Baddie” quite literally defines the phrase “Instagram Baddie” as “a woman who always looks flawless.” This “insta baddie” trend is an additional toxic aspect of social media that bombards girls with unrealistic standards of beauty, making them wary of not fitting into certain outfits or not having the same nose, waist, or butt. Many online guides have been created about how to become an “Instagram Baddie” entitled “Instagram Baddie 101” or “Instagram Baddie checklist.” It’s no wonder that Millenial and Gen Z eating disorders are on the rise with these guides urging towards extreme dieting and a specific figure.
On the flip side, social media has helped to make some wonderful strides in the body positivity movement in response to this mounting toxicity. Film star and model Zendaya was named one of Time Magazine’s 30 most influential teens of 2015, and she campaigns for a more positive relationship with body image within her audience. When modeling for Modeliste Magazine, Zendaya came to notice that her photos had been edited—something that is done not only by magazine and celebrity stylists but by girls like us who have access to apps such as VSCO and FaceTune (once again, I’ll admit that I’m guilty!). Zendaya not only released a collage showing the difference between the original photo and the edited version, but she posted it on Instagram with an inspiring message when she “found [her] 19-year-old hips and torso quite manipulated…” she went on to say that “...these are the things that make women self-conscious, that create the unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have. Anyone who knows who I am knows I stand for honest and pure self-love.”
Credit: Instagram (@zendaya)
In a world of mirror selfies and 14-day ab blasts, I can only hope that we will achieve a more diverse range of figures on popular media sites to create an environment where women of all ages feel comfortable in their own skin. If you’re struggling with body image, remember that you are not alone—there are many outlets and resources with which you can help educate yourself and others. Do your best to stop comparing yourself to girls who say they’re “not like the other girls” when in reality they’re EXACTLY “like the other girls,” and just focus on what makes you feel like your best self.
Body positive Instagram accounts you must follow:
https://www.insider.com/body-positive-instagram-accounts-to-follow-in-2019-2018-12