Young women can improve their online experience without giving up social media

Young women are often exposed to social media content that can contribute to negative body image, but new research has found small, deliberate changes to their feeds could help reduce body image pressures.

A team of researchers from Griffith University, Flinders University, and the University of the Sunshine Coast, recruited 230 Australian women aged between 17-35 years to participate in a seven-day social media intervention.

The study examined three strategies over seven days: following non-objectified body-positivity accounts, following nature-focused accounts, or removing appearance-focused content from existing feeds.

The findings showed deliberately curating content on Instagram and TikTok reduced self-objectification and perceived pressure from social media to meet beauty standards.

Dr Veya Seekis from Griffith University’s School of Applied Psychology said the findings highlighted how social media users could take greater control of their online experiences.

“Our findings suggest appearance pressures can be reduced by removing appearance-focused content or following body-positive accounts that promote body acceptance and appreciation without sexualising women’s bodies,” Dr Seekis said.

“Importantly, content doesn’t need to focus on bodies or appearance to be beneficial.

“Following nature-focused accounts can also help reduce appearance pressures while increasing feelings of connectedness to nature.”

The findings highlighted feed curation as a simple, accessible strategy for creating healthier online experiences.

Professor Ivanka Prichard from Flinders University said young women thrived when their value was defined by more than their appearance.

“Finding content that inspires, educates or connects us with the world around us can be a powerful reminder that who we are is much more than how we look,” Professor Prichard said.

Dr Seekis said positive changes did not always require leaving social media.

“The message isn’t necessarily that young women need to stop using social media,” she said.

“It’s that they can be more intentional about the content they allow into their feeds.”

The paper ‘Testing social media feed curation: Effects of non-objectified body positivity, nature, and feed cleansing on young women’s body image’ has been published in Body Image.

UN Sustainable Development Goals 3: Good Health and Well-being