Social media influencers tackle fitness world through Instagram
Social media influencers are coming together to create a safe, positive and health-inspired community after a survey revealed a rise in online hate and cyberbullying.
Instagram has a high number of social media influencers: individuals with accounts that quickly become popular, often due to a desirable aesthetic and seemingly perfect lifestyle.
Following an increase in the number of accounts that promote disordered eating and self-harm, fitness influencers have come under scrutiny for encouraging this behaviour.
Accounts that promote disordered eating habits are often integrated with those that encourage healthy lifestyles, leading to more publicity on the negative effects these pages can have on people.
One Instagram influencer, Georgia Indigo, or @indigogofit, describes the industry as being stressful and hard-work at times, having the potential for the development of unhealthy habits.
Vulnerable people, or people who struggle with mental health illnesses, are some of those who may suffer from societal pressures that are concentrated through platforms such as Instagram.
Georgia said: “There’s an online fitness community on Instagram that tries really hard to promote self-love and I think it’s a good thing for helping those that really struggle with that.
“I like to post unflattering, unedited photos next to picture where I am posing and have edited any imperfections to show people how easy it is to manipulate your appearance online.”
