Exploring the protective role of visual and verbal disclaimers on social networks users’ positive body image: An experimental study

Abstract

Given that positive body image is correlated with a wide range of well-being indicators, it is important to develop effective strategies to protect users of social networks (SN) from potentially harmful SN content. This experimental study aimed to assess the impact of exposure to digitally altered images of young women, combined with verbal and visual disclaimers, on positive body image (body appreciation, body functionality appreciation and body satisfaction). For this study, 270 female SN users (M = 21.55; SD=3.31) were exposed to one of four conditions: Control (neutral images), only edited images (images of digitally altered women’s bodies), visual disclaimer (images of comparisons between pre and post-edited women’s bodies), visual + verbal disclaimer (images of comparisons between retouched and unretouched women’s bodies accompanied by a verbal disclaimer). Partially in line with our hypotheses, analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that participants exposed to the visual disclaimer or visual + verbal disclaimer conditions reported higher body satisfaction than those in the control group. The body satisfaction of women in the control group did not differ from that of women who saw only edited images. Moreover, no differences emerged between participants in the visual + verbal disclaimer condition and those in the visual disclaimer condition. Contrary to our hypotheses, the results indicated no impact on body appreciation or body functionality appreciation. These findings may have implications for the development of strategies aimed at increasing body satisfaction among young female users of SN.