Twitter: Twitter is a platform that allows users to post their thoughts to the site in real time. During the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, one group of researchers gathered tweets from people who talked about the show. This event is known for having an unrealistic representation of women, and encouraging the Thin Ideal. They sorted the tweets based on categories such as body image and references to self-harm. Of the tweets that were about body image, 90% of them were an upward social comparison (Chrisler 2013). This means that the tweeters were putting themselves down by trying to compare themselves to the models.
There is an example of negative comparison to the left. The study ultimately found that there was a distinct connection between the VS Fashion show and body dissatisfaction and fat talk among viewers. Twitter as a platform for random thoughts can give a great insight into the negative body image of many women. On the other hand, it can also be a way to easily spread positivity if you want to. For positive tweets about body image, check out our twitter feed here. Remember that every social media platform can be utilized in positive ways. Why spread negative thoughts when you could put a smile on someone's face? There is an example of this type of tweet to the left. |