Why banning gym selfies could do us all a lot of good
It’s easy to see why taking selfies could be considered inappropriate in such cases.
- It’s easy to see why taking selfies could be considered inappropriate in such cases.
- When considered alongside a rise in toxic influencer culture and widespread body-image insecurity, it could be argued banning gym selfies is a positive step.
Self-obsession in the digital age
- One of the most famous Greek myths is that of Narcissus, who gave us the word “narcissist”.
- This is the tale of a young man captivated by his own image.
- Yet research shows narcissism is not only very prevalent in the modern age, in many cases it’s lucratively rewarded.
Gyms push back against selfies
- Gym selfies can be tied particularly closely to influencer culture.
- Influencers posting gym selfies will typically gain a lot of views and likes, and in some cases may attract mass followings.
- Research shows gym selfies can also influence people’s motivations for exercising.
- Study participants reported becoming more conscious of their own bodies when they saw gym selfies online.
Self-care in the social media age
- And social media are a potent driver of the latter.
- This promotes an obsession with self-image and pushes us to reach social media-worthy levels of muscularity or leanness.
- Research shows adolescents in particular can have negative mental health outcomes as a result of self-image comparisons on social media.
Exercising for ourselves
- At the same time, these individuals wield significant power within communities (both online and offline) and have an opportunity to shape norms around fitness and body image.
- It might just be the beginning of people exercising for themselves and nobody else.
Samuel Cornell receives funding from Meta Platforms, Inc. His research is also supported by a UNSW University Postgraduate Award funded by the Australian Government. Timothy Piatkowski is a Lecturer and Researcher at Griffith University. He is also affiliated with Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action.