How the Exposure to Beauty Ideals on Social Networking Sites Influences Body Image: A Systematic Review of Experimental Studies

Adolescent Research Review https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-022-00179-4 SYSTEMATIC REVIEW How the Exposure to Beauty Ideals on Social Networking Sites Influences Body Image: A Systematic Review of Experimental Studies Giulia Fioravanti1 · Sara Bocci Benucci1 · Giulia Ceragioli1 · Silvia Casale1 Received: 7 September 2021 / Accepted: 1 January 2022 © The Author(s) 2022 Abstract Sharing and viewing photos on social networking sites (SNSs) have been identified as particularly problematic for body image. Although correlational research to date has established that SNS use is associated with increased body dissatisfaction, only experimental studies can enhance confidence in the conclusions drawn. For this reason, this systematic review synthesizes data from 43 experimental studies (N = 8637; %F = 89.56; mean age = 21.58 ± 1.78) examining the effect of viewing idealized images (i.e., attractive, thin, and fit) and body positive content on SNSs on body image. Two studies were conducted on adolescents. Each study had slight variations in how the images were presented for each category (e.g., selfies and photos taken by others). The wide variability in experimental stimuli and psychological moderators used in the published research make a systematic review more feasible and meaningful than a meta-analysis. Findings indicate that viewing idealized images on SNSs lead to increased body dissatisfaction among young women and men. State appearance comparison (i.e., engaging in social comparison while viewing images) significantly mediated the effect, whereas trait appearance comparison (i.e., the relatively stable general tendency to engage in social comparison) was a significant moderator. Mixed results were found regarding the exposure to body positive images/captions. Viewing images on SNSs depicting unattainable beauty ideals leads young people to feel dissatisfied about their bodies, with appearance comparison processing playing an important role. More research is required to assess the long-term effects. Keywords Body image · Social networking sites · Body dissatisfaction · Body positive · Systematic review Introduction An emerging body of research has evidenced the negative influence of using and being exposed to social networking sites (SNSs) on body image. Specifically, a wide number of correlational studies have found that SNSs use is associated with body dissatisfaction and body image disturbance among young women and men (for a systematic review, see Holland & Tiggemann, 2016; for a meta-analysis, see Saiphoo & Vahedi, 2019). Since only experimental studies can enhance confidence in the conclusions drawn, over the last ten years a growing number of studies have used experimental methods to test whether people feel worse about their bodies after exposure to different types of beauty ideals images on SNSs (i.e., attractive, thin, and fit bodies) than after exposure to * Giulia Fioravanti 1 Department of Health Sciences, Psychology Unit, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, 50135 Florence, Italy appearance-neutral images. However, to date no previous systematic review has been conducted on the available experimental research in this area, helping to clarify which types of images that people view every day on SNSs have a negative impact on body image and for which types of individuals. This study aims to fill this gap by systematically reviewing the growing body of experimental studies that has investigated the influence of SNSs use on body image. The effect of viewing various types of SNSs idealized images on different body image outcomes, as well as the potential mediating/moderating variables will be examined. Body image can be defined as a “person’s perceptions, thoughts, and feelings about their body” (Grogan, 2008, p. 4). Body dissatisfaction occurs when the evaluation of personal body image is negative and when a perceived discrepancy between real and ideal body occurs (Cash & Szymanski, 1995). Over the past few decades, body dissatisfaction has been shown to be associated with eating and weight disorders (e.g., Brownell & Walsh, 2017), depression (e.g., Goldfield et al., 2010), suicidality (Crow et al., 2008), and 13 Vol.:(0123456789) Adolescent Research Review decreased quality of life (e.g., Griffiths et al., 2016). Because of its harmful effects and its high prevalence (e.g., in the U.S., ranging from 11 to 72% in women and from 8 to 61% in men; Fiske et al., 2014), body dissatisfaction has been identified as an important public health issue (e.g., Bucchianeri & Neumark-Sztainer, 2014). Body dissatisfaction is considered to be influenced by sociocultural factors, with mass media being the most impactful one (e.g., Tiggemann, 2002). Ideal body shapes conveyed by traditional mass media, such as magazines and television, comprise unattainably thin and toned bodies, exalting slenderness and weight loss (Groesz et al., 2002). The relationship between traditional media exposure and body dissatisfaction has been supported by a considerable number of correlational and experimental studies both among women (for a meta-analysis see Grabe et al., 2008) and men (for a meta-analysis see Barlett et al., 2008). According to the sociocultural theory of body dissatisfaction (Thompson et al., 1999) there are two mechanisms involved in this relationship: (i) internalization of appearance ideals (e.g., thin, muscular, and fit ideals); (ii) appearance-based social comparison. Specifically, frequent media exposure leads individuals to internalize the thin ideal as beautiful and desirable, compare themselves to these idealized images, and feel dissatisfied with their body and appearance as a result (e.g., Stice et al., 1994). Another important framework for understanding the effect of media exposure on body image is offered by the objectification theory (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997). In Western societies, the female body is considered as an object to be looked at and evaluated mainly based on physical appearance. The pervasiveness of this cultural message leads women to assume an observer’s point of view, and to consider their own bodies as an object to be looked at and evaluated in terms of appearance, a mechanism named self-objectification (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997). Self-objectification occurs when a woman starts to habitually and constantly monitor her own body appearance. This body surveillance increases body shame and anxiety (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997). Research evidence has demonstrated that exposure to sexualized fashion magazine images results in both state self-objectification and body dissatisfaction (e.g., Harper & Tiggemann, 2008). Body Image and Social Networking Sites Although traditional media are still largely used, other types of “new” media are being increasingly diffused, most evidently the SNSs. SNSs are online platforms where users can create and share content with other users (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010). These sites differ from traditiona (...truncated)