Short Assignment #1:

Research Proposal:

I want to research something about Instagram and how it affects women because I admittedly have a slight obsession with my image on Instagram as do many other girls my age. Likes and comments, how my pictures look together on my grid, the timd of day of posting, and the individual photos having the perfect editing and filters are all things that are important to any girl who values her Instagram so finding the perfect picture to post is always an important decision. My potential research question is “Is Instagram making women have an unhealthy obsession with appearance and self-worth or is it promoting self-confidence?” Instagram is a platform that many women now feel comfortable posting photos of themselves and getting likes and complements in return but sometimes the need for likes and gratification can become overpowering. I am going to explore this topic by reading studies and articles that focus on how social media affects specifically younger women and the damages that obsessing over one’s image can cause. I also want to find some sources that discuss how Instagram is healthy for women and gives them an outlet to express themselves. I am going to try and attempt to contact an “Instagram famous” model because they experience the effects of Instagram in a much larger sense. Someone with a larger following on Instagram can also discuss the effects of the mean comments that usually come with having a lot of followers.

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Short Assignment #2

Annotated Bibliography:

Schreiber K. Body conscious. Psychology Today. 2015;48(5):34-35.

            This article focuses on the consequences of “promoting a thin and ultra-athletic physique” which is a different side of the argument than the source in American Fitness Magazine which talks about the importance of showing fitness on social media. Instead of “fitspo” giving women a source of inspiration, it made women push themselves trying to look like the models in the photos and just feel hopeless about their efforts when they don’t get the results and never feel good enough. The author talks about a study by Bryan Karazsia which shows the effects of women viewing these popular magazines and fitness social media accounts by having them discuss their body image satisfaction before and after viewing the photos. The majority have the women felt less satisfied with their bodies after viewing them and said they wish they could have the thin and muscular look that the models have which can lead to women over-exerting and under-nourishing themselves.

 

Wiedeman r. The prom queen of instagram. New York. 2015;48(20):18.

            This article from New York Magazine focuses on Lilli Hymowitz, a 16-year-old girl who was considered the most popular girl in New York City due to her Instagram following. It discusses how people who she didn’t even know existed knew many details about her life such as where her tattoos were located, who she was dating, and what parties she was at every night. Much of her success has to do with her economic privilege which shows how people follow others on Instagram just to envy them and their lifestyles. This obsession over “celebrities” on Instagram can cause people to try and change themselves to be like the User they follow in order to gain popularity. The source also reveals that truth that although someone can have a large online following and act as if they are happy there can be a completely different story behind the scenes. When asked to invite people to a dinner party she admitted that she was only actually friends with about 10 people despite having thousands of followers that praise her. The article reiterates the idea that is found in some of the other sources that there are “rules” of Instagram as Hymowitz always strived to keep the number of people she followed low to appear more exclusive and deletes photos that don’t get enough likes.  

 

Calderon-Douglass B. Filter. Bitch Magazine: Feminist Response to Pop Culture. 2016(69):40-44.

            In this article, Calderon-Douglass discusses how Instagram is place where all of her interest come together and is a place for self-love and promotes feminist ideals. She goes on to give examples of the accounts that she follows and the type of content they post. One of the examples is the user @thebiggirlscode who she says is “one of many Latinas online merging self-love, culture, art, and politics with an unambiguously intersectional feminist voice.” She discusses how important it is for women to see good role-models and people who resemble them on social media so they know they are important and beautiful. This article discusses the positive attributes to Instagram and all the ways it can help spread good ideals and gives examples of accounts to back up her claims. She says that Instagram is a place to empower women and promote feminism which differs from some of the articles which says the app puts women down and decreases self-confidence.

 

BARRERA C. LOVE YOUR SKIN YOU'RE IN. (cover story). American Fitness. 2016;34(2):32-34.

            This article is from American Fitness Magazine and features Nicole Mejia, a social media phenomenon who uses Instagram to spread healthy and holistic regimens and ideas. In the interview she says, “Being fit isn’t about being a specific size, shape or body fat percentage” and “self-acceptance is at the core of any change that you are going to make in your life” which spreads the idea of body-confidence and doesn’t fat shame. Mejia began a campaign using the hashtag, “#FitandThick” in order to show you don’t have to be stick-thin to be healthy. Having diversity on social media is important so young women don’t just see the same body-type over and over and think that is how they must look to be beautiful. Mejia is an example of how Instagram can be used in a positive manner that brings women confidence instead of putting them down. This article focuses on the positive side of Instagram and doesn’t address the problems the app can cause like in some of the other articles.

 

Lup K, Trub L, Rosenthal L. Instagram #Instasad?: Exploring associations among instagram use, depressive symptoms, negative social comparison, and strangers followed. CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking. 2015;18(5):247-252.

            This article discusses the consequences of social media and how it affects the users’ psychological well-being. Evidence in the article shows that following strangers on apps such as Instagram can cause users to compare themselves to them and feel that their life is inferior which can be detrimental to someone’s self-worth. The fact that Instagram users also only see one picture that is edited and chosen carefully by the poster can also cause them to feel inferior because they think the poster’s lifestyle is lavish when in reality it could just be a one-time photo-op. The results of the study discussed in the article shows that many people harshly compare themselves to the users they follow which can increase depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness. These findings fall in line with some of the results that were found in the other articles that discuss the dangerous effects of self-comparison on Instagram on the self-confidence of the users.

 

 Olya G, Tauber M. PLUS-SIZE AND PROUD! (cover story). People. 2015;83(22):70-74.

            This article is from People Magazine and focuses on Tess Holiday, the largest model to ever sign with a major agency. She is an example of how Instagram can be positive for women because she was discovered on her Instagram account by a modeling agency and now has the power to reach an even larger audience and spread her word of body positivity. She launched a social media campaign with the hashtag, “#effyourbeautystandards” which supports the message of self-acceptance. In the article, Holiday tells the story of how she was bullied as a child and really didn’t start to find self-confidence until she found outlets such as Facebook and Instagram to express herself. Unlike some of the other articles, this one focuses purely on the positive side of Instagram and doesn’t mention any downsides. It discusses how Instagram can be a tool to increase the confidence and self-worth of girls unlike some of the articles which talk about how the app leads to hypersexualization of young girls and can cause confidence and self-worth issues.

 

Ridgway JL, Clayton RB. Instagram unfiltered: Exploring associations of body image satisfaction, instagram #Selfie posting, and negative romantic relationship outcomes. CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking. 2016;19(1):2-7.

            This source explores how body image satisfaction affects selfie-posting and whether Instagram users promoting their body image through Instagram posts can increase the risk of Instagram-related conflict and affect romantic relationships. The authors are trying to expose the “dark side” of Instagram so this source does not mention any of the positive things that can come from the app as some of the other sources do. The authors write that according to existing research, “users are likely to share images of one’s self to attract mates or to express dominance” which is different than some of the other sources which say it can be a form of self-expression and can boost confidence. The results of the study show that body image satisfaction is positively associated with Instagram selfie posting and that selfie posting is associated with Instagram-related conflict. These findings reveal that when people post photos of them displaying their body it can conflict and bullying rather than positive feedback and acceptance

 

Steinmetz K. Teen girls describe the harsh unspoken rules of online popularity. Time.com. 2014:1.

            This article uses information about negative experiences on social media that was found through surveying girls ages 13 to 24. From the information that was gained, the author states, “while social media may be place to make fun connections, it can also be just another way to feel isolated and insecure.” The article contains a list that compiles the “unspoken rules” of instragram as told by the girls who were surveyed. It includes rules such as having a lot of followers, remove photos that don’t get enough likes, have good captions, time posts for optimal like-getting, don’t post more than one picture in a day. This article showcases how seriously girls can take Instagram and how easy it is to judge other users if they don’t follow the common rules. The information found in the survey reiterates upon the fact that Instagram can be an unhealthy environment for girls and makes them question their self-worth which is an idea that is found in some of the other articles as well.

 

Mascheroni G, Vincent J, Jimenez E. "Girls are addicted to likes so they post semi-naked selfies": Peer mediation, normativity and the construction of identity online. Cyberpsychology. 2015;9(1):30-43.

            In this article, the authors discuss the incredibly large role that online social networking plays in the lives of teenagers. Through the collection of qualitative data, they examine the common characteristics and activities that are seen throughout the average teenager’s online social media persona. It was found that many Instagram photos that are posted are edited in order “to convey an ideal impression of their self rather than reality” which is another method to appeal to a larger audience in order to gain more likes. The authors write about how girls now “link their social acceptance with their approval of their online” and think about the number of likes they get “as symbolic tokens of social inclusion.” Like some of the other articles, this one also discusses how the sexualization of girls on social media has also led to more sexting and scandals including girls having photos spread and the bullying that follows. The article also addresses the positive side of Instagram as girls say the app can cause “liberating and empowering” feelings that come from maintaining their online appearance. Unlike in some of the other articles, the authors address how boys view social media as well and discuss the double standards and differences of the photos and accounts between the two genders.

 

Sales NJ. How social media is disrupting the lives of american girls. Time. 2016;187(6):26-27.

            Sales’ article focuses on the adverse effects that social media can have on younger girls. It discusses how girls now feel more of an urge to gain attention on social media because in this age of technology many interactions are conducted virtually. There is a quote from a college-aged girl that reads, “It’s to get the likes. Everything’s about the likes,” which demonstrates how girls are willing to get edgier with their content just for the attention and validation that is gained through likes and comments. The sexualization of girls is beginning earlier and earlier due to social media. The most famous people on Instagram are often celebrities whose most liked photos are ones where they are showing a lot of skin which just encourages young girls to do the same. According to this article, while these sexualized photos may gain praise from the opposite sex and friends they also can lead to slut shaming and bullying amongst their peers. The article also addresses the other side of the argument by some feminists that say girls posting provocative photos are just expressing their sexuality and if the woman is choosing to do so voluntarily she should be praised for her confidence. This article relates to the others because it discusses the dangers of girls holding the opinions of others in such high regard and also the sexualization that girls are experiencing throughout social media. 

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Short Assignment #3

Interview:

This Interview is with Kobi Jae (@kobi_jae on Instagram)

1.Is Instagram the app that you feel most comfortable expressing yourself on? How is it different from other apps like Facebook and twitter?

I wouldn’t necessarily say “the most comfortable expressing myself on”, but it’s definitely a unique experience for me, being that it’s mostly visual. It’s also my largest platform, so while I would use Facebook to communicate with people I know, Instagram is more of a public profile where I interact with a lot of strangers. I really don’t use Twitter, so I can’t comment on that. 

 

2. Do you feel any need to "fit in" on Instagram?

No I don’t feel a need to “fit in”, but I do have a sense of responsibility about the following and platform that I have on there. I think carefully about everything I post, because I want to make sure that i’m expressing myself in a way that corresponds with my ethics and value system. I wouldn’t say it’s censoring myself, so much as it is using that pressure (for lack of a better word) as a way of keeping myself accountable, and to ensure i’m constantly analysing and unpacking my views on the world. 

 

3. Have you ever been bullied or felt victimized because of your Instagram?

I’ve actually been really lucky to fly under the radar of a lot of bullies and trolls - which is very unusual for a vocal fat activist to avoid being targeted. I have had a few hateful comments about being fat and “gross”, but i’m very quick to block and delete. I understand that people who do and say those things are not able to have their minds changed, and I don’t want to validate their existence by engaging with them.

 

4. Do you post pictures according to what you think will get the most likes or just post whatever you like?

I tend to just post whatever I like, but to be perfectly honest I do consider “my brand” as a big picture concept, to some extent. Mostly because I am working towards my own indie plus size clothing business, so an engaged following is only a benefit for my future. Also, I work in advertising and have a naturally curious mind about stuff like that. I am sometimes interested in seeing what sort of things do get more engagement, but all in all I would rather a smaller yet more engaged following than the opposite. I’m not trying to play the instafame game.

 

5. When did you join Instagram and how/when did you start to get such a large following? I’m not exactly sure, I think somewhere around 2010/2011. I actually thought it was just a photo filtering app, and didn’t realise for ages that my photos were being posted anywhere! I think around 3/4 years ago - not long after I started blogging - I began to be semi-regularly featured on internet lists of “people to follow”. Buzzfeed was my first really big one, and my following grew by 2-3K in 24 hours. It was surprising and very humbling. 

 

6. One of my sources claims that there are "rules" on Instagram such as you must have more followers than following, post at a certain time of day, not post multiple times a day, and delete photos that don't get enough likes. Do you follow any of these rules?

I would never, ever delete a photo that doesn’t get “enough” likes, in much the same way that I would never untag myself from a photo that I thought was “unflattering”. I just can’t do it - I can’t take myself that seriously. I tend to post at certain times because the majority of my followers are American (i’m Australian) and so, if I want to have conversations and engage with my following, I need to be online at the same time as them. This isn’t a hard and fast rule for me, just something I keep in mind. Instagram is a 2 way street, in my world: I really value the people I interact with, I don’t just post narcissistically and wait for the accolades to come pouring in. I want to converse, sometimes about trivial things (like lipstick or whatever), and sometimes (more often than not) about the big stuff.  

 

7. Has your self-confidence increased since using Instagram?

Definitely, but I really can’t claim it’s just because of Instagram. Like I said, I started blogging and that put me in touch with a lot of communities surrounding fat activism and plus size fashion, and all of my studies and awakenings in those areas have contributed to my self-confidence increasing. But, yes - those connections were made much, much easier by being able to find people on Instagram. I love hashtags for that exact reason, and I use a lot of them. Like I said, it’s a 2 way street. People can find me using them, but I can find other people, too. 

 

8. Do you think there is enough diversity on social media and in mainstream media? 

In mainstream media - absolutely not, not even close. But on social media, it’s hard to say. If you’re looking in the right places, there is lots of diversity to be found. But we could and should all do more to use whatever platforms we have to push representatives of marginalised groups to the foreground. This is part of why I started the account @whatfatgirlsACTUALLYwear - aside from being a fashion resource for plus size women, I wanted it to be a space to promote people of all backgrounds and with all different styles, and to generate its own community of like-minded people. 

 

9. Do you think there is a double standard when it comes to men and women posting provocative pictures on Instagram?

I don’t really have an opinion on “provocative” pictures, of any gender. I do think the double standard on the right to expose our breasts is absolutely ludicrous, and our society needs to take a long, hard look at itself on many issues - this included. 

 

10. Do you think it's unhealthy for young girls to be so obsessed with how they are presented online?

I’m going to have to say yes, but I also think that it doesn’t have to be. Autonomy and self-representation in an online space can and should be empowering and enlightening, but there are too many other factors in our current culture for that to be the norm, especially for young girls. We need to stop commodifying female bodies and we need to cut it out with the extreme celebrity worship culture. We also need to find real and practical ways to get young people developing better relationships with their bodies, and to large-scale change the way we all think and talk about bodies - whether it be weight, size, shape, colour, decoration, dress, abilitity etc. The current dialogue that we all perpetuate on a daily basis is very destructive, and benefits nobody but huge corporations.