{"id":39358,"date":"2017-10-12T15:23:03","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T13:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.buzzoole.com\/?p=39358"},"modified":"2018-05-28T12:48:29","modified_gmt":"2018-05-28T10:48:29","slug":"power-visual-content-body-positivity-instagram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.buzzoole.com\/en\/social-media-trends\/power-visual-content-body-positivity-instagram\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Visual Content: body positivity on Instagram"},"content":{"rendered":"

A picture is worth a thousand words. Never has this seemed more vital a concept in the increasingly visual field of social media. Instagram, the visual-based channel known for stunning images and model-like shots, is a channel that has matured quickly. It is also one that has been lambasted for inauthenticity, from fake followers and likes to overly retouched photos. It is a channel that has raised concerns over mental health among young people, with many citing the perfect, bikini clad bodies and extravagant holiday snaps as the reason for low self-esteem.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> by the RSPH (Royal Society for Public Health) has ranked Instagram, along with other visual platform Snapchat, as the worst for young people’s mental health. In the report, Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive, RSPH, commented that “it’s interesting to see Instagram and Snapchat ranking as the worst for mental health and wellbeing – both platforms are very image-focused and it appears they may be driving feelings of inadequacy and anxiety in young people”. However, she also states that “through our <\/span>Young Health Movement<\/span><\/a>, young people have told us that social media has had both a positive and negative impact on their mental health”.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, is Instagram doomed to become an inauthentic image and like generating machine?<\/span><\/p>\n

Well, like with so many aspects of social media, it depends on where you look and how you use the platform. The inadequacy many people felt looking at the photos (both real, faked and “enhanced”) led some to produce accounts to tackle the issue. Some head-on, such as comedian <\/span>Celeste Barber<\/span><\/a> who re-enacts celebrity Instagram photos to highlight the ridiculous side of it all, and some like Milly Smith and her <\/span>@selfloveclubb<\/span><\/a> Instagram account where she explores body positivity and mental health awareness by talking frankly and honestly about both. She includes photos highlighting the poses and apps used in many Instagram photos to improve the difference between “before” and “after” photos. Smith also has a <\/span>YouTube<\/span><\/a> channel, where she expands on the points in her Instagram captions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Same day, same body. One is seen as more desirable, flat stomach and arched back to pop out that booty. The other is seen as bloated, less desirable with connotations of lazy yet it's the same damn body!! Its so easy to distort our bodies, pose and suck in to fit into an ideal. I used to be scared and ashamed of my relaxed body as i was so used to seeing myself posed\/sucked in. Both of these images are beautiful but I prefer the right, it's me naturally without needing to breathe in or pop my butt out, im worthy, desirable and gorgeous without needing to change and thats so relieving to me. I laughed this morning as I could feel myself feeling bloated from Christmas, I used to reach for the baggiest clothes when bloated but this morning I reached for the tightest item of clothing I own and said suck it to the ideals. You can wear bodycon with a tummy and flat butt, you can wear tight clothing with rolls and bloat. Fuck 'flattering' it's just another word for slimming and it can take a long walk off a cliff. All bodies shapes are beautiful, let's get used to our natural state and stop trying to change ourselves, only feeling acceptable if we pose or suck in. We are worthy, we are powerful beyond measure and we can change the \ud83c\udf0e!<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Milly\ud83c\udf3b<\/a> (@selfloveclubb) on