Changing Trends: Body Positivity on TikTok

Changing Trends: Body Positivity on TikTok Can TikTok change for the better?

WRITTEN BY SOFIA CIPRIAN // ILLUSTRATED BY VICTORIA CRABB

Social media has always had a contentious relationship with body image. The new trendy social media app, Tik Tok, is no different. In fact, it has taken “thinspo” to a whole new level. The “for you page” curates a feed for every user full of videos that are deemed “desirable.” AKA: videos of people with bigger bodies, disabilities or other “abnormalities” were often censored and removed from the app because they were not deemed “desirable” enough. Many Tik Tok users have also shared that when they look at their “for you page” all they see are “thin, white women.” This has become problematic because impressionable users of the app are then given a very limited representation of what bodies can and should look like. Especially given how each person has a unique “for you page,” there is no cohesive Tik Tok experience, each person’s feed is curated. For example, fourth-year international relations major Emma Wyatt says, “I never was into the type of videos such as ‘how to get skinny quick’ to begin with, so then the algorithm never showed me those videos again and as a result the app has not impacted how I view my body.” Meanwhile, fourth-year psychology major Meg Huffman mentions that “Tik Tok makes me want cosmetic procedures done because of all the transformation videos that glorify changing your body.” Huffman also notes that the popular trend where users use a filter that fattens then slims their face so that they can “feel better” about their thinner face is “definitely toxic.” Therefore, each person’s experience with Tik Tok is catered to their interests, but also to their insecurities. The good news is that it seems like Tik Tok is trying to improve their practices. A recent update from Tik Tok states that they are “coming together to support body positivity” and lists steps it will take to improve its platform, including the restriction of ads that promote negative body image or dieting. While this is a great change, a lot of the visible progress seen on the app seems to be coming from body positive Tik Tok users and allies who have been expressing their contempt with the app’s censorship. There has been a surge in the number of users who post videos embracing body positivity, with the hashtag #bodypositivity amassing 2.9 billion videos.

Body positive Tik Tokers have taken it upon themselves to show users the range of body types that exist and reminds them that each body is equally beautiful. Some popular trends include dance videos where the user will pull the waistband of their pants down to show that their stomach has flab and show that images on social media can be deceiving, or “what I eat in a day” videos that reinforce positive messages reminding users to eat properly every day and not restrict their diets in unhealthy ways. Beyond these trends, there are also a lot of users who dedicate their entire platforms to body positivity. Some popular ones are: • @spicylatina: Young Latina girl who posts dance videos showing how her body can look “snatched” in some positions, while also showing that her rolls and curves are beautiful. • @brittanilancaster: Eating disorder recovery account where she posts videos showing what she eats and how she is improving her relationship with food. • @caro.gurdian: Woman who does a lot of

“get ready with me” videos showing how sometimes her clothes do not fit or display

her rolls and cellulite, but that is okay! • @kendramorous: Curve model who makes videos speaking about confidence and accepting her body as it is. • @denisemmercedes: Woman who does outfit try-ons with her friend; they both have very different body types and normalize how both body types can look good in the outfits. Undoubtedly, Tik Tok as a corporation still has a long way to go in terms of ensuring all bodies are represented on their app, but Tik Tok users have decided they are not going to wait around for the app to improve and are taking matters into their own hands. By creating content that is inclusive and diverse, they are showing their audiences that there is not just one definition of beauty and that we can all go on this journey of self-love together.