TY - JOUR
T1 - “It’s Better Saying I Look Fat Instead of Saying You Look Fat”
T2 - A Qualitative Study of U.K. Adolescents’ Understanding of Appearance-Related Interactions on Social Media
AU - Paddock, Danielle L.
AU - Bell, Beth T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2021/7/31
Y1 - 2021/7/31
N2 - Appearance-related interactions with peers, both positive and negative, are commonplace on social media. Using qualitative methods, this study explores U.K. adolescents’ shared understandings and experiences of these interactions. Sixty-four adolescents (Age M = 12.56; SD = 0.97; Girls = 33) from a secondary school in Northern England participated in semi-structured focus groups. Using thematic analysis, three themes were developed that encapsulate their shared understandings of appearance-related interactions: (a) positive appearance commentary is the norm, especially if you are popular and attractive; (b) comments to others should be positive, but comments about the self should be modest and self-deprecating; and (c) negative appearance comments are problematic but not always intentionally harmful. Overall, our findings suggest that, to adolescents, the boundaries between positive and negative interactions are blurred, as content, intention, gender, and social rules intersect with social media platform design. Further research is needed to better understand how social media site design alters adolescents’ appearance interactions, as well as the role of these interactions in the development and maintenance of peer relationships and body image concerns.
AB - Appearance-related interactions with peers, both positive and negative, are commonplace on social media. Using qualitative methods, this study explores U.K. adolescents’ shared understandings and experiences of these interactions. Sixty-four adolescents (Age M = 12.56; SD = 0.97; Girls = 33) from a secondary school in Northern England participated in semi-structured focus groups. Using thematic analysis, three themes were developed that encapsulate their shared understandings of appearance-related interactions: (a) positive appearance commentary is the norm, especially if you are popular and attractive; (b) comments to others should be positive, but comments about the self should be modest and self-deprecating; and (c) negative appearance comments are problematic but not always intentionally harmful. Overall, our findings suggest that, to adolescents, the boundaries between positive and negative interactions are blurred, as content, intention, gender, and social rules intersect with social media platform design. Further research is needed to better understand how social media site design alters adolescents’ appearance interactions, as well as the role of these interactions in the development and maintenance of peer relationships and body image concerns.
KW - adolescence
KW - appearance interactions
KW - focus groups
KW - peer relationships
KW - social media
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111817115&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/07435584211034875
DO - 10.1177/07435584211034875
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85111817115
SN - 0743-5584
JO - Journal of Adolescent Research
JF - Journal of Adolescent Research
ER -