A digital space for all sorts of bodies

A recent study ranked Instagram and Snapchat as the worst social platforms for body image, though Instagram had good marks for self-expression, self-identity and emotional support. And Instagram has made a concerted effort to foster these online communities by building programs around well-being, and by prioritizing safety and inclusion.

Hashtags like #bodypositive, #bopo, #bodyacceptance and #effyourbeautystandards — the one created by Ms. Holliday in 2011 — have been added to millions of Instagram posts, carving out a digital space where everyday people can share photos of their bodies and stories about body image.

Body positivity is more than weight acceptance, though. It is about accepting one’s body as it is, regardless of what is deemed socially acceptable or beautiful: from the external like acne, body hair, cellulite and stretch marks, to the more complex like physical disabilities or disorders.

By relying on images, Instagram opens the door to change in a way that transcends language and age, said Marne Levine, Instagram’s chief operating officer. “It is through that visual nature that people are able to be what might not have been obvious to them before.”

Take control, curate your feed

Organizations working to promote body positivity have seen an ally in Instagram, but at the end of the day, the onus is on users to take control of their accounts and “combat that toxic self-criticism,” said Claire Mysko, the chief executive of National Eating Disorders Association.

“When body hatred has dominated your daily thoughts and the ‘not perfect enough’ voice is on repeat in your head, curating your feed so that you see pictures of people of all sizes posting unapologetically without shame can be a powerful tool,” she said.