The Silent Epidemic of Instagram
More than 500 million people across the globe use Instagram every day, which means if every single person posts one photo a day that’s 500 million photos circling the platform — and that’s a lot! With those numbers users are bound to come across a variety of different photos that can have either a positive or negative influence. But how can users differentiate positive from negative when so much of the content spread across Instagram is far from reality?
One of the largest problems on Instagram is the manipulation of photos to present oneself thinner than in real life. Many celebrities including the Kardashians, Beyonce, and Lindsay Lohan, have been accused of manipulating photos to make their arms, legs, and/or stomachs appear thinner online. As a result, users as young as 17 years-old have followed in celebrities footsteps in disguising manipulated photos as well-lit photos shot at angles done to make the user appear thinner. A study conducted by Mariska Kleemans on adolescent girls and body manipulation online showed that manipulated Instagram photos can cause lower body satisfaction in comparison to non-manipulated photos, especially in girls with a higher tendency of social comparison. This issue is largely due to social comparison towards fitness accounts, celebrities, and other public figures.
Others believe that fitness-positive Instagram posts, coined ‘fitspiration’ images, can have a positive impact on body image and mood. A study conducted by Amy Slater on the impact of fitspiration photos on young women showed that a combination of fitspiration images and self-compassion quotes had a positive impact on body satisfaction, body appreciation, and mental health. Some users argue that if manipulating photos makes the user feel good about themselves they should be allowed to do so, while others also say that it is not the responsibility of celebrities to adhere to other people’s standards because they aren’t young users ‘parents’ and should be able to post what they want regardless of it is presenting reality or not.
Over the years, photo manipulation of body image has turned into an epidemic across Instagram. Though there are some public figures who are actively trying to challenge this issue and present Instagram versus reality, there are still many widely famous celebrities that shamelessly manipulate their photos and give a false perception of themselves to their audiences. The line between distorting the shape and/or size of someone’s body and photoshopping a few blemishes or acne—or temporary flaws in one’s appearance—is beginning to fade. The problem with the use of photoshop by celebrities and other public figures reveal a hideous sickness with body image and how no one is made perfect. ‘Fitspiration’ shouldn’t translate to having to be fit to feel beautiful, but rather being able to accept oneself for the way they look and feel bold in that truth.
