The body positive movement on social media seeks to challenge narrow conceptualizations of beauty that media outlets traditionally perpetuate and reinforce. Through a 2 × 2 between-subjects online experiment, we examined how the nature and authenticity of body-positive imagery on social media affects female viewers and their evaluations of body-positive content (N = 425, M_age = 35.47, SD_age = 13.52). Specifically, participants viewed and reacted to a series of 10 body-positive images of women on social media varying in their degree of sexualization (sexualized vs. non-sexualized) and evidence of digital photo modifications (modification icons vs. no modification icons). A control group that featured landscape images was also included. Results indicate body-positive images that are considered sexualized and are believed to be digitally modified can undercut the movement’s intended aims: Participants who viewed body-positive images that were sexualized (vs. non-sexualized) and included photo modification icons (vs. no modification icons) reported greater endorsement of traditional beauty ideals (e.g., thinness) and thought the images were shared for self-serving reasons (e.g., to gain likes/shares/endorsements); these relationships were mediated by the extent to which viewers believed these images were sexualized and digitally modified. Further, results indicate that sexualized body-positive images can instigate sexual objectification of others and oneself. Those who viewed control images (vs. experimental body-positive images) produced significantly fewer sexually objectifying words about others and themselves. Implications for both viewers and producers (e.g., individuals, corporations) of body-positive imagery on social media are discussed in light of objectification theory.

社交媒体上的身体积极运动试图挑战媒体传统上延续和强化的对美的狭隘概念化。通过 2 × 2 受试者间在线实验，我们研究了社交媒体上身体正面图像的性质和真实性如何影响女性观众及其对身体正面内容的评价（N = 425，M_年龄= 35.47，SD_年龄）= 13.52）。具体来说，参与者在社交媒体上查看了一系列 10 幅女性身体正面图像并做出反应，这些图像的性化程度（性化与非性化）和数码照片修改的证据（修改图标与未修改图标）不同。还包括一个以风景图像为特色的对照组。结果表明，被认为是性化的并被认为经过数字修改的身体正面图像会削弱运动的预期目标：观看过性化（与非性化）并包含照片修改图标（与没有）的身体正面图像的参与者修改图标）报告了对传统美丽理想（例如，瘦）的更多认可，并认为这些图像是出于自私的原因（例如，为了获得喜欢/分享/认可）而分享的；这些关系是由观众认为这些图像被性感化和数字化修改的程度所调节的。此外，结果表明，性化的身体正面形象可以煽动他人和自己的性对象化。那些查看控制图像（与实验性身体正面图像相比）的人产生的关于他人和自己的性客观化词语要少得多。根据客观化理论讨论了社交媒体上身体正面意象对观众和制作者（例如个人、公司）的影响。实验性的身体正面图像）产生的关于他人和自己的性客观化词语显着减少。根据客观化理论讨论了社交媒体上身体正面意象对观众和制作者（例如个人、公司）的影响。实验性的身体正面图像）产生的关于他人和自己的性客观化词语显着减少。根据客观化理论讨论了社交媒体上身体正面意象对观众和制作者（例如个人、公司）的影响。