The Impact of Social Media on Body Image: Examining the Role of Influencers, Users and Platforms

a research that investigates the correlation between social media photo retouching and body image issues, exploring the detrimental effects on self-perception and mental health while evaluating ethical responsibilities of both users and platform

Abstract

This paper will examine the correlation between social media usage and body image issues, with a particular emphasis on the prevalent practice of photo retouching and manipulation by social media users, such as influencers. The paper will delve into the intricacies of how the pressure to present an idealised version of oneself on social media, such as instagram, can lead to detrimental consequences on one's self-perception and mental health. Additionally, the ethical and moral implications of retouching and manipulating photos will be evaluated, including the potential harm caused to the individuals posting and other users by such practices. The question of responsibility for this harm will also be examined, which involves both the users and the platforms themselves. Through this in-depth analysis, this paper aims to provide a thorough understanding of the impact of social media on body image, particularly through the lens of photo retouching and manipulation.

The Problem

Social media has brought forth a fascinating change in the way individuals engage in entertainment by consuming and creating content on different platforms: from a posting standpoint, individuals use social media as a means of self-expression and validation through photos and videos as they showcase themselves and parts of their life to gain attention and validation from others; from a consumption standpoint, the users can immerse themselves with these carefully curated content as social media serves as a source of entertainment. This dual function of social media, by allowing individuals to both express themselves and consume content, has served as a powerful tool for the posters to seek validation and boost self esteem as they receive positive feedback from their followers; for users who visit the platforms for entertainment and consumed the content, they are also provided with valuable information and tips on various topics such as lifestyle, fashion and beauty, which serve as a source of inspiration and motivation.

While influencer content has the power to positively influence different individuals in various aspects, excessive consumption can get people caught up in a cycle of constant scrolling, comparing and self-evaluation, which touches upon core ethical issues such as principle of autonomy, principle of honesty and authenticity, ethical egoism, theory of altruism, utilitarianism.

Ethical Implication and Moral Responsibility

The ethical implications and moral responsibility regarding body image issues are complex and multifaceted. On one hand, while it could be argued that individuals and influencers who retouch their photos are acting within their autonomy, their photos bear the potential harm for other users and they should be held responsible for the impact of their actions on others. On the other hand, the platforms themselves may be seen as responsible for encouraging visual sharing and normalising unrealistic and biologically unattainable body ideals. Further, the users who actively go on the platforms for entertainment should also be responsible for their own well being, especially those who are particularly vulnerable and have a tendency to be negatively influenced by the posts. Ultimately, both the users and the platforms play a role in this issue.

The Influencers: Ethical Issues and Responsibility

The title influencer by definition is to influence its followers. This therefore bears a great responsibility that many of today’s social media influencers do not bear in mind. The use of manipulation by influencers on social media raises ethical concerns, particularly in regards to the violation of authenticity and principle of honesty. Influencers often carefully present an extremely curated and exaggerated version of their lives and appearance in order to improve their profile’s appeal and gain more influence. Influencers of great scale and impact should be more wary as these practices can be misleading and present a false or fabricated image to their followers (Beckett, S.,2022). In a similar manner, the use of heavily retouched photos is a form of deception edited to make the subjects look as attractive but also as realistic as possible (Angelo, J. M., 1993). This can be dangerous to viewers who may compare their own appearance to the edited images while not being completely aware of the photoshopping procedures behind the "perfect" image. This deception not only promotes unrealistic and unattainable beauty standards, but it also exploits the insecurities and vulnerabilities of their followers who do not always feel confident about their body, leading to negative mental health outcomes such as low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and depression (Sibirtseva, M., Golovach, C., & Sandra, 2020). Additionally, the deception perpetuates stereotypes and discrimination, and creates further pressure for users to present a perfect image of themselves as they start to get more dissatisfied about their own body. This is not only unethical, but it also has serious consequences for mental and emotional health. To maintain authenticity and honesty, influencers should be transparent and truthful about their lives and appearance and should not present a false or misleading image to their followers. As users of the online community, they should also be mindful of the impact their content can have on their followers and thus promote body positivity and self acceptance rather than unrealistic beauty standards. They should be accountable for the content they produce and have a moral responsibility to not exploit their followers for the sake of their own benefit.

The ethical egoism behind the retouched photos is also another ethical issue on the part of the influencers. Ethical egoism is a theory that holds that the primary moral obligation of an individual is to promote their own self-interest, but this does not necessarily mean that this action is ethically justifiable. In the context of influencers who post retouched photos, their self-interest may be in getting validation, gaining more followers, and increasing their influence, but this does not necessarily mean that it is morally or ethically right, especially when their choice to manipulate their posts is causing harm to others as they completely prioritised their own interests over the wellness of others (Sibirtseva, M., Golovach, C., & Sandra, 2020). In a way, the influencers are using their followers and the users who saw their posts for validation but never consider the effect that the posts can have on them (Herbozo, S., Tantleff-Dunn, S., Gokee-Larose, J., & Thompson, J. K., 2004). For the temporary bliss and validation, some people might end up worse off than before they saw the post by the influencers. The lack of concern for the well being of others can also be seen as a violation of the principles of altruism and empathy which holds that the needs and well being of others should be considered and prioritised in ethical decision-making as the theory. The theories believe that all individuals have the moral duty to help and benefit others, even at a personal cost. It holds that acting in the interest of others is morally right, and that self-interest should always be secondary to the well being of others. The ethical egoism also conflicts with the theory of utilitarianism which holds that the moral value of an action should be based on its ability to promote the greatest overall happiness for the greatest number of people and that an action is only morally right if the consequences of that action are more favourable than unfavourable to everyone. In other words, as the influencers’ actions of posting retouched photos did not prioritise the well being of the society at large, it would be considered a violation of utilitarianism. While influencers may have the autonomy to make decisions about their own appearance, their actions can have a significant impact on their followers, who may compare themselves to the realistic but edited images and feel pressure to conform to the unrealistic beauty standards. Therefore, it is crucial for influencers to consider the potential impact of their actions on others and strive to promote body positivity and self-acceptance, rather than contributing to the perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards (Beckett, S., 2022). As the ethical egoism of the influencers contrasted with the theory of altruism, photo retouching is seen as morally incorrect.

However, when considering the ethical issues posed by the influencers, it is important to acknowledge that they have the right to autonomy in making decisions for themselves. While their carefully altered appearance may encourage biologically unattainable body ideals, exploit the insecurities and vulnerabilities of their followers, and cause further mental health problems and self harm behaviours, it is crucial to recognize that the influencers have the freedom to choose how they want to present themselves online, whether that be through retouching, filtering, or editing their photos (Sibirtseva, M., Golovach, C., & Sandra, 2020). Balancing the principles of autonomy and altruism is crucial in addressing the ethical issues surrounding the manipulation of photos on social media. It is imperative to consider the potential harm caused by the influencer's actions, while also acknowledging their right to self-presentation and self-expression. This requires a nuanced approach that takes into account the complex interplay of individual rights and societal responsibilities.

The Platform: Ethical issues and Responsibility

The principle of honesty is not only violated by influencers who engage in deceptive practices by editing and manipulating their photos, but also by social media platforms that lack regulations on this issue. The absence of appropriate policies on retouching and manipulation of photos on these platforms has allowed influencers to continue the trend of deceiving their followers by posting highly edited or manipulated images. This not only undermined the principle of honesty but allowed unrealistic beauty standards to spread faster as more influencers are encouraged to contribute to the false visual content. Furthermore, by not taking steps to address this problem, the platforms themselves are failing to uphold honesty, which can erode trust among users. The lack of regulation on retouching and manipulation of photos on social media platforms is a serious ethical issue that requires attention and action from platforms, influencers and regulators.

The constant portrayal of unrealistic beauty standards by influencers on the platform can also have a detrimental effect on users' autonomy to form their own perceptions of beauty. The overwhelming presence of influencers and the trends they promote can shape and define what is considered beautiful for other users who spend hours looking at the content, potentially leading to a loss of individuality and personal judgement (Bratu, S.,2022). The lack of diverse representation of beauty in influencer content can also contribute to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and discrimination. Social media platforms have a responsibility to address this issue by promoting diversity and representation, and providing resources for users who may be struggling with body image and self-esteem issues (Beckett, S., 2022). Additionally, platforms should actively encourage influencer transparency and honesty, and strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for all users. By taking these steps, platforms can empower users to develop their own perceptions of beauty, and promote self-acceptance and body positivity.

Platform design plays a critical role in affecting users’ moral psychology of using social media and how they behave online and there are several unethical aspects of platform design that contribute to body image issues. Feedback mechanisms can encourage or discourage certain types of behaviour. For example, the priorities engagement features such as “likes” and “dislikes” can often signal the public’s approval or disapproval of content, which could influence the psychology of users when they look at retouched photos with unrealistic body ideals and lead to a pressure to present a perfect image of oneself due to social comparison. The general design of the user interface is also impactful as platforms can be maliciously designed to be visually appealing, easy to navigate, engaging, and ultimately addicting, which influence the amount of time users spend on social media, thereby increases users exposure to untrue content that can negatively affect their perception of the body (Bratu S., 2022). From the Deontology perspective, which emphasises duties and obligations, the platforms’ designers should consider their moral duty to protect the well-being of others. Given the endless scroll design of the platforms and the constant stream of compelling visual images on platforms like Instagram, it’s difficult for individuals to avoid comparing themselves and feeling inadequate. Furthermore, Instagram’s internal research has shown that users are often aware of the platform’s psychological effects and yet they struggle to stay away from the platforms (Noted., W. S. J., 2021). This is due to the addictive nature of social media and the fact that these platforms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible, despite the knowledge that prolonged usage can negatively impact their mental health and make it difficult for them to disengage, as it is how they generate revenue. In March of 2021, researchers who looked into the correlation between instagram and mental health issues suggested that Instagram should reduce exposure to celebrity or influencer content about fashion and beauty and increase exposure to content from close friends. However, the Instagram team questioned the idea and resisted making changes, stating that celebrities and influencers with perfect lives are a key aspect of the app and that's why users, especially younger users, are drawn to the platform. Facebook, which owns Instagram, has long been aware of the negative impact the platform can have on the mental health of many young users, yet has kept this research private. Platforms should take responsibility for the impact of their platform affordance and content, and the platforms need to be accountable for any harm caused. Platforms currently failed to effectively address the potential harm to all its users and it failed to consider the impact of their platform design on users' mental health and well being and strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for all users.

The Users: Ethical issues and Responsibility

Despite highlighting the ethical concerns regarding the actions of the influencers and platforms, it is also important to recognize that individuals have the choice to use or not use these platforms because social media platforms certainly have the freedom to pursue financial gain through their platform designs, and users are never forced to join them. Further, when signing up for these platforms, regardless of how ethical/unethical the terms and conditions are laid out and regardless of the fact that users don’t always read through the terms, users all agreed to it and acknowledged how the platform will function. Given the widespread use and necessity of social media in today's society, it is crucial for individuals to take responsibility for their own protection while using these platforms. It is ultimately up to the individual to decide if they want to engage with social media, and to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves. Specifically, for those who are particularly vulnerable or have the tendency to be more negatively affected by what they see on social media, they should be mindful of the hours they spend online and appropriately limit their social media use and exposure to sensitive content or negative influence that can bring them harm. Body image issues are a multifaceted problem that requires empathy and understanding from all parties involved in order to minimise harm and uphold the principle of utilitarianism. While influencers may contribute to negative body image perceptions, it is necessary to recognize that they may also be struggling with their own mental health struggles as they post to seek validation.

Potential Design Solution

Algorithmic design

In order to address the negative impact that unrealistic visual content on Instagram can have on mental health and body image, I propose to develop a machine learning program that can detect the use of filters and photo enhancement effects on each post. This program would assign a score to each photo based on the amount of editing applied. For photos that have been significantly edited, a credibility label would appear under the photo to inform other users about visual misinformation. Additionally, if the score exceeds a certain threshold of 50, a warning screen would be displayed before the photo that is blurred, similar to the one for sensitive content or NSFW content, warning the users that the content is heavily edited. This feature aims to remind users that the photos of the body are only achievable through manipulative technology even though what’s in the photos may seem to be realistic after very careful photo editing and retouching techniques. It is not representative of reality. The design hopes to target users' psychology by subtly instilling the message on the credibility label into their subconscious, slowly bringing them back to reality, while introducing more transparency to the platform by uncovering the filters and photoshops that are used by the influencers and other users. The solution does not directly cancel photo retouching and other editing strategies as aforementioned, those who decide to turn to photo manipulation might have their own struggles. Thus, this solution is intended to maximise the wellbeing of every party involved on social media: the influencers, the regular users, and the platform.

Ethics and Moral Theories as Basis of Suggested Solution

Utilitarianism calls for actions that promote the overall well-being of the greatest number of people, and in this case, posting unaltered and authentic images that promote body positivity and self-acceptance would be the more moral choice as it would ultimately lead to greater happiness and well-being for the majority of individuals.

Virtue ethics encourage users to be honest and responsible in their online interactions. In the context of social media, this approach would involve encouraging users to cultivate virtues such as empathy, kindness, and authenticity when being online.

Consequentialism is a moral theory that holds that the morality of an action should be based on its consequences and a consequentialist approach to address the issue of negative body image on social media would involve evaluating the potential consequences of the impact on society.

Further Steps

Addressing the multifaceted problem of social media's impact on body image requires a comprehensive approach that includes not only technical solutions but also education and awareness-raising. To mitigate the harm caused by unrealistic images on social media, it is crucial for all users to have a better understanding of the ethics and etiquette of online communication. This includes learning about interpersonal communication ethics, netiquette, and discourse/communicative ethics. By educating both posters and vulnerable users about these topics, we can foster greater awareness and understanding of each other's thoughts and intentions, which can lead to more positive and respectful interactions online.

I also want to further urge users to take proactive measures to appropriately limit social media use and reduce the possibility of getting exposed to negative influences online.