Instagram vs Reality - How Social Media Can Affect Body Image
Social media can be a great way to communicate with your mates, share memes and post fun holiday pics - but it can also have its downsides. You might've seen 'Instagram vs Reality' posts in your feed before where people post a pic of something picture perfect alongside a more realistic snap. It's something that's usually meant to remind people that a lot of what you see on Instagram or other social media platforms is usually very carefully curated to show someone's highlight reel or the stuff they want you to see without all the less flattering in between bits. Take a selfie for example, that ONE pic you see is probably the result of a lot of this, plus good lighting, the right pose, and a LOT of editing. It's why many experts reckon social media can be bad for our body image. They say scrolling through platforms like Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook and comparing ourselves to, well, everyone else can affect the way we see ourselves and our bodies. In fact, a study published just last week found that kids who use social media were more likely to develop body image issues. Which is a bit of a worry given close to 1 in 5 Aussie kids say they use Instagram every day! But a new study reckons those Instagram vs Reality posts might actually be really helpful. Some researchers found that when the participants saw realistic pictures instead of just ideal pics, unsurprisingly, they were less likely to feel unhappy with their own bodies. The researchers say it's a good reminder that all those little flaws and imperfections make us normal and that Instagram definitely isn't always reality!
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