Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Follow, filter, filler? Social media usage and cosmetic procedure intention, acceptance, and normalization among
Anne-Mette Hermans1, Sophie C Boerman2, Jolanda Veldhuis3
1Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
Today, young people spend much of their lives online where they encounter abundant appearance-focused content. In light of the important role that social media platforms like Instagram play in young people's attitudes towards the cosmetic surgery industry, this study investigates passive and active social media usage in relation to young adults' perceptions of cosmetic procedures. In a cross-sectional survey study among 470 Instagram users aged 18-25 years (Mage = 21.00, SDage = 2.26), young adults indicated a low cosmetic procedure intention themselves, but overestimated the prevalence of cosmetic procedures undertaken by others. Considering passive social media use, young adults who follow influencers who had undergone cosmetic procedures reported higher intentions to have cosmetic procedures themselves, and following influencers who had not undergone procedures was related to lower intentions. In terms of active social media usage, frequency of Instagram posting was generally insignificant in relation to acceptance of and intention to undergo cosmetic procedures. Yet, those who used filters to edit pictures more frequently reported increased cosmetic procedure acceptance and intention. Overall, this paper offers a nuanced perspective on the relation between young adults' perceptions of cosmetic procedures and their social media behaviors, highlighting the importance of specific appearance-oriented social media usage.
More Related Videos
08:27Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits
Published on: September 27, 2019
06:39Electroencephalographic, Heart Rate, and Galvanic Skin Response Assessment for an Advertising Perception Study: Application to Antismoking Public Service Announcements
Published on: August 28, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social Proof
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Stereotype Content Model