Changing our Face Value
What is Beauty? And how is Instagram playing a role in what we consider to be beautiful today?
A major debate started throughout the latter half of the 21st century, which continues today is the idea of beauty. What is the ideal or standard we should compare ourselves to? To begin, we should consider our traditional standards, and what it has meant to be beautiful. Historically, to have a beautiful figure has entailed being slender, tall, and symmetrically proportioned to name a few. One prominent platform that conveys today’s changing standards is Instagram. There are many aspects of beauty to explore, so to delve into this issue on such a broad spectrum would be an extreme undertaking.
A specific issue to explore, is the availability of fitness programs and information on Instagram, and how it has affected women’s perception of themselves and their well-being. While researching this topic, two articles were used: “Finding a More Inclusive Vision of Fitness in our Feeds”, written by Jenna Wortham argues Instagram has had a positive effect on beauty standards; while the article “Body Conscious” penned by Katherine Schrieber contends that Instagram can have a detrimental effect to mental wellbeing. These articles illustrate the two general sides to the argument, the first, is that Instagram has opened up a new platform for previously underserved markets, while the second is that Instagram has continued to enforce an idealistic and unattainable set of beauty standards; while both provide compelling arguments, the former addresses the argument from both angles, taking a more persuasive approach to the topic.
Unrepresented Demographics
In Jenna Wortham’s Article (2017) “Finding a More Inclusive Vision of Fitness in our Feeds”, published in the New York Times, positive impact that access to fitness information on social media has had for today’s user is addressed. Wortham highlights the positive influence that Instagram fitness accounts have had for a previously underserved audience. Wortham describes her own personal challenges with fitness programs; gyms being overwhelming and fitness models mirrored and targeted towards an already trim demographic, with issues unrelated to her own. Wortham outlines her venture into the Instagram fitness world, first describing an Instagram trainer, who is not the norm for fitness gurus. This trainer has a different figure than most, and it is because of this, and her easily accessible workouts, Wortham finds her relatable to a previously untapped market. Wortham recognizes, that Instagram can evoke feelings of motivation and emptiness simultaneously, but overall its ability to reach new audiences is groundbreaking. It has provided influencers with the ability to reach people in a way that has not been possible prior to the social media wave. Wortham highlights that it is important to realize that motivational profiles on Instagram, are just that, and should be considered as aspirational only. Wortham concludes that while Instagram can still lead to body-image pressures, these pressures were set by society before Instagram, and this platform has at least opened up a previously unavailable space for expansion outside the idealistic standards, ultimately challenging them
Instagram as a Support Network
Jenna Wortham persuasively emphasizes the differentiating factor for social media, when compared to previous fitness platforms. Wortham illustrates this concept, by directly contrasting Instagram’s negative effects against its potential positive outcomes:
“social media’s ability to forcibly expand perspectives on lifestyles trumps the pressure it may induce among viewers who now feel they have new standards to live up to”
Wortham acknowledges that although Instagram is not without its setbacks, overall its unique ability to serve many markets takes precedence over its flaws. By realizing the faults of Instagram, Wortham works to build credibility for the reader and present a whole-sided argument. Worth encourages the reader to question the availability of information outside “mainstream” prior to Instagram and appreciate the capabilities of the platform, in terms of expanding the targeted demographic for fitness programs. It is because of Instagram, that women who were previously ignored, have found a place of belonging and somewhere to start a program, regardless of where that starting place may be. It has become not only a source of information, but of a means of support and a network for women as they journey through lifestyle changes. Wortham effectively compares Instagram to other media sources, and ultimately conveys its ground-breaking appeal and success for previously underserved groups, by appealing to the reader using real-life anecdotes and acknowledging both sides of the issue.
“Fitspiration”
On the contrary, “Body Conscious” by Katherine Schreiber (2015), published in Psychology Today, discusses the unforeseen and dangerous consequences of the “fitspiration” movement on Instagram. Schreiber shares the struggle of women today, who are constantly exposed to photos of body types that they aspire to reach. Schreiber shares the story of Janine DeMichele Baggett who began following various fitness profiles on social media in hopes of gaining the extra motivation she needed to change her lifestyle and become satisfied with her body. Instead, Baggett found herself overlooking her progress as regardless of changes in her own body, she compared herself to photos online. Schreiber explains that the “fitspiration” movement is now widespread and although intended to be a healthy replacement of the once popular “thinspiration”, she questions the success of the movement. Schreiber outlines that while women’s self-esteem is not deterred by “hyper-muscular” profiles, idealistic images of thin-muscular women can be even more detrimental than the thinspiration movement. One researcher Schreiber contacted, Bryan Karazsia, asserts that:
“the thin-athletic body ideal is particularly worrisome… because you have people trying to become thin through lack of nutrition and then exercis[e] while not properly nourished.”
Schreiber continues to share that while fit models with a normal body weight were not as challenging to women’s mental health as thin models; one of the greatest challenges comes from the captions accompanying photos. Many of these photos are laden with guilt-ridden comments and encourage negative thoughts towards healthy lifestyles. Finally, Schreiber addresses the movements shortcomings from a different angle, by describing the “alienation effect” which deters participation altogether given the commitment and intensity of the programs. Through Schreiber’s research, she finds that the ideals depicted on social media, may be unattainable for some women altogether and the exposure of this content online will only continue to reduce body satisfaction altogether.
Adjusting Expectations and Interpretation
Schreiber illustrates one of the largest challenges users have when using Instagram as their go-to for fitness motivation and information. With a personal anecdote, shared by Janine DeMichele Baggett: “I couldn’t recognize my progress because I was fixated on how far short I fell”, Schreiber reinforces the idea that users are constantly exposed to fitness content that sets unattainable standards. Where, I challenge this notion, is the interpretation of that information, in two ways. The first is the general availability of information, as discussed earlier; the exposure of information is not new to today’s society, fitness ideals have been set for years on a variety of different platforms. I will admit, that information is more easily accessible than ever, with almost any content available within fingertips reach, social media is no exception, if not the driver of this movement. However, we must address that these norms are long embedded into years of exposure from all media platforms, not a new set of standards stemming from Instagram culture. Furthermore, reaching fitness targets requires a sense of personal awareness, a realistic set of goals, and accurate information. It is unrealistic to set a major goal, without progressions along the way, and although the majority of content reveals an ultimate level of fitness, there is content available for all lifestyles and figures. Additionally, a major issue is how users interpret information, when compared to the approach taken by Wortham, who notes the user must acknowledge what a picture portrays, and how idealistic a photo may be, by noting that these photos should be received as aspirational — something missing from Schreiber’s evaluation of Instagram. Just as any form of exploration, the onus is on the user to check into the authority and credibility of information provided on any given profile. While Schreiber demonstrates common challenges of social media, no platform is without its flaws; and it is no different than previous comparisons made to billboards and magazines. With the user controlling what type of information they seek out, it can have quite positive outcomes, given users are setting reasonable goals and making informed decisions.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, although both articles construct thought-provoking arguments on the availability and content of fitness information on Instagram. Wortham is able to effectively convince the reader that while the platform can lead to inequitable comparisons, there are multitudes of diverse beauty standards being set on Instagram, wavering far outside any norms previously set; and while Schneider presents valid arguments, she is unable to convince the reader that Instagram causes any more destruction, than previous fitness platforms used to set beauty standards. Going forward, it is important to note that users need their own sense of awareness when using social media and must set a realistic set of standards when drawing comparisons.
