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Unfiltered: How Teens Engage in Body Image and Shaming Discussions via Instagram Direct Messages (DMs)

Abdulmalik Alluhidan, Jinkyung Katie Park, Mamtaj Akter, Rachel Rodgers, Afsaneh Razi, Pamela J. Wisniewski

TL;DR

The paper investigates how teens discuss body image in private Instagram conversations, collecting 1,596 sub-conversations from 67 youths aged 13–17 and applying thematic analysis plus chi-square tests to compare dyadic and group interactions. It reveals a predominance of negative body image disclosures that are more often met with validation and support in one-on-one chats, while group conversations tend to foster body-shaming and less personalized responses. The study also documents moments of positive body image promotion and notes distinct topic and response patterns across private settings. Based on these findings, it proposes design guidelines for social media platforms—such as empathy-based prompts, private journaling features, and real-time moderation nudges—to cultivate healthier and more supportive online environments for teens dealing with body image concerns.

Abstract

We analyzed 1,596 sub-conversations within 451 direct message (DM) conversations from 67 teens (ages 13-17) who engaged in private discussions about body image on Instagram. Our findings show that teens often receive support when sharing struggles with negative body image, participate in criticism when engaging in body-shaming, and are met with appreciation when promoting positive body image. Additionally, these types of disclosures and responses varied based on whether the conversations were one-on-one or group-based. We found that sharing struggles and receiving support most often occurred in one-on-one conversations, while body shaming and negative interactions often occurred in group settings. A key insight of the study is that private social media settings can significantly influence how teens discuss and respond to body image. Based on these findings, we suggest design guidelines for social media platforms that could promote positive interactions around body image, ultimately creating a healthier and more supportive online environment for teens dealing with body image concerns.

Unfiltered: How Teens Engage in Body Image and Shaming Discussions via Instagram Direct Messages (DMs)

TL;DR

The paper investigates how teens discuss body image in private Instagram conversations, collecting 1,596 sub-conversations from 67 youths aged 13–17 and applying thematic analysis plus chi-square tests to compare dyadic and group interactions. It reveals a predominance of negative body image disclosures that are more often met with validation and support in one-on-one chats, while group conversations tend to foster body-shaming and less personalized responses. The study also documents moments of positive body image promotion and notes distinct topic and response patterns across private settings. Based on these findings, it proposes design guidelines for social media platforms—such as empathy-based prompts, private journaling features, and real-time moderation nudges—to cultivate healthier and more supportive online environments for teens dealing with body image concerns.

Abstract

We analyzed 1,596 sub-conversations within 451 direct message (DM) conversations from 67 teens (ages 13-17) who engaged in private discussions about body image on Instagram. Our findings show that teens often receive support when sharing struggles with negative body image, participate in criticism when engaging in body-shaming, and are met with appreciation when promoting positive body image. Additionally, these types of disclosures and responses varied based on whether the conversations were one-on-one or group-based. We found that sharing struggles and receiving support most often occurred in one-on-one conversations, while body shaming and negative interactions often occurred in group settings. A key insight of the study is that private social media settings can significantly influence how teens discuss and respond to body image. Based on these findings, we suggest design guidelines for social media platforms that could promote positive interactions around body image, ultimately creating a healthier and more supportive online environment for teens dealing with body image concerns.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 40 sections, 2 figures, 3 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Background
  3. Youth Body Image in the Age of Social Media
  4. Youth Body Image and Online Peer Support
  5. Methods
  6. Instagram Dataset and Ethical Considerations
  7. Data Scoping and Relevancy Coding
  8. Data Analysis Approach
  9. Results
  10. Descriptive Characteristics of Our Sample
  11. Teens Disclosed Their Struggles With Negative Body Image: (RQ1)
  12. Teens Judged Themselves.
  13. Teens Attempted to Modify Their Looks.
  14. Teens Shared Severe Consequences They Faced for Negative Body Image.
  15. Teen Sought Reassurance
  16. ...and 25 more sections

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Results (standardized residuals) of the between-group analysis of the between-group analysis of teens' body image disclosures, based on whether the conversation occurred in a dyad or group setting. (*) indicates significant association. Note that green denotes a positive association, while red denotes a negative one.
  • Figure 2: Results (standardized residuals) of the between-group analysis of the between-group analysis of teens' responses to body image disclosures, based on whether the conversation occurred in a dyad or group setting. (*) indicates significant association. Note that green denotes a positive association, while red denotes a negative one.