The Impact of Instagram on Individuals' Satisfaction with Their Appearance: A Case Study of Female University Students in Tehran

Abstract

Social media platforms like Instagram facilitate connections among individuals through the sharing of images and videos, substantially augmenting the potential for influencing their audience. An area of particular interest that has evolved in recent years, especially with the growth of the virtual space and the visual-centric content on Instagram, is the level of satisfaction individuals have with their physical appearance, particularly among women. Their contentment with their appearance is intricately linked to the idealized beauty standards championed by Instagram beauty bloggers, often inspiring them to emulate or even contrast with these models. In cases where individuals deviate from Instagram's beauty standards, their definition of beauty still reflects certain parallels with these standards. For instance, they do not necessarily consider excess weight as a criterion for beauty, much like the Instagram models, who serve as symbols of conventional beauty, rarely possess excess weight. This qualitative research studied this subject through interviews with six female university students aged 20-30 in Tehran. The study aims to explore the influence of Instagram on their self-perception, satisfaction with their physical appearance, and their notions of beauty and desirable aesthetics. The research process involved a comprehensive review of key concepts and relevant literature, followed by the analysis and comparison of the interview themes. The study's findings, derived from an in-depth examination of these themes and concepts, provide a more profound understanding of the participants' mental constructs within the virtual space, shedding light on the substantial impact of this digital environment on individual mindsets.