Body positivity and body neutrality have gained momentum on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, which challenge traditional ideals of beauty that have long dominated social media. Body positivity encourages individuals to celebrate their bodies in all shapes, sizes, and colors, while body neutrality shifts focus away from appearance entirely, emphasizing what the body can do rather than how it looks. Research supports the benefits of those approaches. 

In a research article titled “Social media and body dissatisfaction in young adults,” authors Raqual Castellanos Silva and Gisela Steins found that exposure to diverse body types on social media decreased body dissatisfaction and improved mood among young women, compared to exposure to idealized, hegemonic beauty standards. Their findings highlight a critical takeaway: representation matters. By seeing a range of body types celebrated online, young women can resist internalizing narrow beauty ideals, which can build healthier self-perceptions and stronger self-esteem.

Social media campaigns such as #EffYourBeautyStandards and accounts like @BodyPosiPride showcase authentic, unedited content that encourages women to embrace their natural bodies. These initiatives exemplify The Standpoint Theory, which asserts that individuals from marginalized groups (those historically excluded from mainstream beauty narratives) have unique insights into societal power structures. By amplifying the voices of women representing diverse bodies, those campaigns challenge the conventional agenda set by influencers and media, providing young women with alternative, empowering perspectives on beauty. 

Inclusivity goes beyond body shape; it spans race, ethnicity, ability and gender identity. When social media reflects this spectrum, it serves as a protective factor against the negative effects of unrealistic beauty standards. Castellanos Silva and Steins noted that exposure to diverse representations not only reduced body dissatisfaction but also promoted positive emotional states. The research article “Time Spent on Instagram and Body Image, Self-esteem, and Physical Comparison Among Young Adults in Spain” further supports this point, revealing that increased social comparison on Instagram was linked to lower self-esteem and body satisfaction. 

The implication is clear: when social media content celebrates only a narrow, unattainable aesthetic, it fuels harmful comparison and self-doubt. Conversely, curated feeds that amplify inclusivity and diversity allow young women to engage with social media in a healthier, less self-critical way.

Practical examples include campaigns led by influencers who intentionally promote realistic lifestyles, fitness for health rather than appearance and fashion for all body types. By showcasing diverse realities, these creators disrupt the narrow frames that typically dominate feeds, which is a concept directly tied to The Framing Theory. How content is framed influences perception; framing beauty as diverse and inclusive reshapes norms and encourages acceptance rather than comparison.

Self-acceptance is also closely linked to media literacy, which is the ability to critically evaluate content, recognize editing and marketing strategies, and distinguish between authentic and curated messages. The Agenda-Setting Theory helps explain that process because brands, influencers and content creators often shape their content in ways meant to influence how audiences perceive and prioritize certain ideals. Viewers are becoming increasingly aware that material presented online can be manipulated or altered to create a distorted perception. Behind the camera, scenes may be staged, emotions may be exaggerated, and appearances may be digitally altered to produce images more captivating than reality. The Agenda-Setting Theory helps explain this dynamic by highlighting how brands, influencers and content creators often shape not only what audiences see but also what they come to perceive as important, desirable or normal. 

In the article “Instagram Use and Body Dissatisfaction,” Federica Pedalino and Anne-Linda Camerini demonstrated that upward social comparison with influencers fully mediated the negative effects of Instagram browsing on young women’s body appreciation. In other words, comparing oneself to curated images directly harms self-esteem. Viewers are becoming increasingly aware that the content they see may be manipulated or selectively presented, but this awareness does not always prevent the emotional effects of comparison. Media literacy equips young women to break this cycle by encouraging them to question images, understand filters and contextualize influencer content so that social media becomes less of a pressure cooker and more of a platform for genuine engagement. 

Strategies that support this shift include following diverse and body-positive accounts, limiting exposure to profiles that trigger harmful comparison, practicing reflective habits like journaling or mindful scrolling, and using platform tools such as mute or hide in order to curate healthier feeds. These steps do more than reduce harm. They actively promote self-worth and resilience in a digital environment saturated with unrealistic ideals. When used intentionally, social media transforms from a mirror that distorts into a window that opens toward authentic and empowering communities.

Authenticity thrives when young women share their experiences. Street interviews, Instagram live sessions and TikTok videos allow individuals to voice struggles with self-esteem, discuss coping mechanisms and support each other through shared vulnerability. Peer support helps normalize diverse experiences, combating the isolation often induced by comparison and perfectionism. Castellanos Silva and Steins highlighted that even brief exposure to body-diverse content can positively affect mood. Multiply that effect across communities, and social media evolves from a potential threat to self-esteem into a platform for collective empowerment. 

Movements like #BodyNeutrality and #NoFilterChallenge illustrate that when young women see peers embracing imperfection, they feel validated in doing the same; that is a real-world example of The Standpoint Theory in action. Amplifying marginalized voices within these movements ensures that diverse perspectives continue to shape norms around beauty and self-worth. 

Fostering self-esteem among young women requires a multi-pronged approach. Representation, media literacy and community support are key. By following authentic, inclusive voices and critically engaging with content, young women can resist harmful comparison and reclaim their self-worth. 

As social media continues to evolve, so does its potential to be a tool for empowerment rather than a source of anxiety, and individuals can actively shape that shift by curating feeds that celebrate diversity, amplify positive voices, and prioritize self-acceptance over perfection. In doing so, it honors the individuality and resilience of young women and reinforces that their value is not defined by filters, trends, or likes but by their unique voices and lived experiences. This is why taking action matters. Choose body-positive and inclusive accounts, practice media literacy by questioning images and captions, share personal stories or support others online to strengthen authenticity, and explore resources such as mental health organizations focused on digital well-being to contribute to a healthier and more compassionate online environment.