By: Katie Raynes
Social media can be a double-edged sword when it comes to promoting self-love and body positivity. Nonetheless, it is a platform for people to connect and a place for safe and honest dialogue. Still, it often serves as a highlight reel of people’s lives, displaying unrealistic and unachievable standards which compel people to feel negatively about themselves.
In a recent study published this past month, our Wellesley Centers for Women collaborators and Dr. Megan Moreno examined the influential socializing effects of networked media on early adolescence when social media use, body self-consciousness, and social comparisons are at their peak. The study concluded that in early adolescence social media exposure to certain sources of social media content, such as pictures of celebrities, may negatively impact socio-emotional health (Charmaraman et al., 2021).
This study investigates the negative effects social media can have on adolescents with body-self-consciousness. However, social media is not going anywhere anytime soon. It is important for creators, celebrities, and influencers to be aware of the possible effects of their posts with their large platforms and promote authenticity instead of using social media as a highlight reel.
Tik Tok has created new avenues for open dialogue and honesty through the production of short videos. Creators who promote realistic body standards and encourage self-love have created their enormous platforms by cultivating an environment in which there is a tremendous amount of transparency. People value honesty. People have been craving realness.
Here are some content creators who are making a difference through their message of self-love and self-care from their platform, where you can explore to learn more about how these strategies play out in real life.
1. Brittani Lancaster
@ brittanilancaster
Brittani Lancaster promotes body positivity, as well as self-love and acceptance. She has built her platform on being completely open and honest, as she shares an unfiltered version of her journey struggling with two eating disorders and what that entailed for her mental health.
Brittani started posting videos of “what I eat in a day” in order to promote nourishing one’s body and push past diet culture, which has capitalized especially on young girls aiming to achieve unrealistic body standards. Brittani’s content is honest and vulnerable which has engaged, connected, and resonated with her audience. With almost one million followers, she has pushed the body positivity movement in the right direction.
2. Remi Bader
@ remibader
Remi Bader is a refreshing, candid, yet comical influencer who has built her following through being completely real with her audience. Remi was first noticed through her realistic clothing hauls, which challenges the ways in which clothing brands present their pieces online versus what it looks like on a real woman with a real body. Remi is vulnerable in her videos yet brings a light sense of humor.
“Never feel discouraged by how clothing fits, what size you are, or if brands don’t have your size available.” – Remi Bader (Everett, 2021)
In addition to her clothing hauls, Remi also is frank and genuine about when she is feeling down, struggling with body image, or having a bad day. Her transparency makes viewers feel connected and is creating new approaches for social media to become more casual and honest and less of a superficial culmination of the greatest moments.
3. Nabela Noor
@ nabela
As she is unapologetically herself, Nabela posts videos documenting her days. She promotes self-love, acceptance, and body positivity. Nabela celebrates inclusivity and empowers others to feel confident in their own skin.
“I don’t have to look like your definition of beauty to love myself” –Nabela Noor
In addition, she encourages her audience to find “pockets of peace”. The pockets of peace symbolize the little moments that may bring one joy and happiness.
Going Forward
It is not a stretch to say that social media, especially for adolescence, is here to stay. Content creators, influencers, and celebrities should be aware of this recent study published and strive to create platforms filled with transparency and authenticity. While users, also knowing this information, can explore curating their own feed with people and accounts that bring them joy and make them feel good.
References:
Charmaraman L, Richer AM, Liu C, Lynch AD, Moreno MA. Early Adolescent Social Media-Related Body Dissatisfaction: Associations with Depressive Symptoms, Social Anxiety, Peers, and Celebrities. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2021 Jun-Jul 01;42(5):401-407. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000911. PMID: 33507043; PMCID: PMC8196598.
Everett, M. (2021, April 27). TikTok’s Remi Bader Is the Fashion Influencer We’ve Been Waiting For. POPSUGAR Fashion. https://www.popsugar.com/fashion/tiktok-remi-bader-interview-48271117.