The case for body positivity on social media: Perspectives on current advances and future directions
Open accessAbstract
In recent years, the body-positive movement has emerged on social media and has generated both support and criticism in pop-cultural discourse. We review the potential benefits and disadvantages of ‘body positivity’ on social media in light of theory and the available research. Based on the early evidence showing potential benefits of engaging with body-positive content on social media for positive body image, a case is made in support of this emerging content. Nevertheless, recommendations are made for future research with an emphasis on experimental and longitudinal investigations of actual health outcomes of engaging with body positivity on social media and clarification of the potential relationship between body positivity and objectification.
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Critics of the body-positive movement argue that body-positive messages reassert the importance of physical appearance and may increase shame for individuals who struggle with body acceptance.
“However, critics of the movement argue that body-positive messages reassert the importance of physical appearance and may increase shame for individuals who struggle with body acceptance (see Cohen et al., 2020).”
From The Perfect Storm: A Developmental-Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls' Body Image Concerns and Mental Health. (2022) · cites this paper as Cohen et al., 2020
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References 49 · Cited by 253
- Authors
- Cohen, R., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Technology Sydney (AU)
- University of the West of England (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Cohen, Rachel
- Venue
- Journal of Health Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2020-03-19
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 13
- Pages
- 2365-2373
- ISSN
- 1359-1053 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7277
- OpenAlex
- W3011834377
- Cited by
- 253
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 31 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 58 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 3
- FWCI
- 2.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UTS ePRESS (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion)
- UWE Research Repository (UWE Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Feminism, and Media
- Keywords
- body positivity, social media, body image, objectification, health outcomes
- MeSH terms
- Body Image, Humans, Social Media
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