Healthy body image online
Body image pressure can show up in many online spaces. It is not only about social media.
It can show up in videos, comments, group chats, games, search results, fitness content, beauty content, and creator posts.
Talking early about body image can help your young person make sense of what they see online.
What is body image?
Body image is how we think and feel about our body.
It is not just about weight. It can also be about:
- skin
- shape
- muscles
- height
- style
- how we think we should look
Positive body image is likely to improve our self-esteem, confidence, and wellbeing.
When people are dissatisfied with their bodies, they can turn to quick fixes including unhealthy eating and exercise behaviours. This can lead to issues like anxiety, depression, or eating disorders.
I feel like nowadays how we feel about ourselves is based on what people post on the internet. It’s nutrients and fashion, or if someone comes out with a new product to try and make your skin better. It does affect us a lot which I don’t really like.
Female, 15, Pacific & Asian — Digital Reflections research, 2024
How online content can affect body image
Online content can shape what young people think is normal, attractive, healthy, or successful.
Body image pressure can show up through:
- short videos and social media feeds
- comments, likes, and messages
- fitness, food, and beauty content
- creators and influencers
- games and online communities
- search results and suggested posts
Some content can make young people feel worse about themselves. Some content can also help them feel accepted, informed, and less alone.
For boys, the videos are like, 'oh, you should be muscley and you should be like this.' For girls it's like, 'oh, you shouldn't be too muscley because you'll look like a boy', so it is different.
Clinical participant — Digital Reflections research, 2024
Netsafe and the Classification Office's 2024 Digital Reflections research found that young people can come across body image content whenever they are online, including content they did not go looking for.
I think with a lot of people, they will come across [body image content] accidentally. From there, if they have kind of these negative views on themselves, then they will start seeking it out more intentionally.
Female, 16, Other European — Digital Reflections research, 2024
Support your young person
Try these small steps early:
- Ask what your young person is seeing online.
- Ask what kind of content they enjoy.
- Talk about filters, editing, and “perfect” images.
- Remind them that some content is made to get attention or sell something.
- Praise effort, humour, kindness, creativity, and strengths, not just looks.
- Keep the conversation going over time.
There are a lot of glow up sort of channels and looksmaxxing - that’s a big one. You know, people are starting to work out and do stuff outside to improve the way they look.
Male, 15, Māori, Pacific & Asian — Digital Reflections research, 2024
Questions Parents Can Ask About Online Content
You do not need one big talk. Small questions often work better.
Try asking:
- “What kind of body messages do you see online?”
- “Do you think this is real, edited, or trying to sell something?”
- “How does this make you feel?”
- “Do you see content that makes people feel they have to look a certain way?”
- “Is there any content you want less of?”
Try this tonight
Ask your young person to show you one kind of content they see a lot.
Then ask:
- What do you like about it?
- What message does it give about how people should look?
- Does it make you feel better, worse, or no different?
- Would you like to see more of this, less of it, or not care?
Key things parents should know about body image
- Body image pressure can start before a young person joins social media.
- Online content does not affect every young person in the same way.
- Your young person may not use the term 'body image' but instead talk about what's normal or what looks good.
- Calm, ongoing chats help more than one-off lectures.
Next Steps
Check out our advice on how to talk to your young person about body image and online content.
