Exposure to body-positive imagery and humorous content parodying negative body stereotypes on social media inspires women to take action against unrealistic beauty standards, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.

The research, published in the journal, Sex Roles, found that this type of “critique” imagery improved young women’s body satisfaction and promoted feelings of gratitude and hope, which are key drivers for social change.

The study involved 252 young women between the ages of 18 and 35 and compared the effects of viewing idealised body images with those of body-positive and humorous parody content.

The findings show a clear and positive impact of body-positive and humorous parody imagery, with exposure to images that critique unrealistic body ideals increasing women's body satisfaction. Researchers also found a link between viewing this type of imagery and women’s engagement in online activism, including intentions to both halt the use of unrealistic body portrayals and promote more diverse representations.

Dr Fabio Fasoli, leading author of the study and Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology at the University of Surrey, said:

“Social media are a central part of everyday life, offering space to connect, share, and stay informed. But for many, particularly women, social media platforms can be a difficult place to exist, filled with content specifically designed to keep you scrolling, and in some cases, reinforce unrealistic images.”

“Our study has found that promoting diverse and realistic images on social media is crucial not only for improving individual wellbeing, but also for mobilising the community to advocate for broader social change against the current status quo. By encouraging young women to follow and engage with body-positive accounts we can improve their mental health and foster media literacy.”

The research also showed how feelings of gratitude toward women who challenge beauty standards and share diverse and realistic bodies are a powerful motivator for collective action on social media, highlighting the importance of gratitude for the work that others are already doing in improving society and women’s representation in media.

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