ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces, illustrates, and analyses the finding that peer content (such as selfies) has a powerful influence on young people’s levels of body satisfaction. Some young people are critical of peer content. At the same time, other young people experience a level of peer pressure to modify their health-related behaviours to look a certain way. The chapter argues that social media is a powerful educational resource that can open up dialogue about the body. Resilience can be developed by supporting young people to engage with peer content and by encouraging peers to offer support and critical insights.
A digitally animated case study video of the evidence presented in this chapter can be accessed from: https://epapers.bham.ac.uk/3061/
