Body-Positive Social Media

  Yes you can read the headlines that scream Facebook Breeds Narcissism or maybe those are the Twitter users. And thinspo/fitspo will always plague blogs, pinterest, instagram and tumblr. 

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However, we Guiltless Gals believe that we can use the power of social media for good and not evil and work to make add some body positive conversation to those social networks on a daily basis. We're tweeting, facebooking and pinning to change the world-right? Media can shape our life, so we have to create the media that does that in a healthy way. And we'd love for you to join the conversation!

• Pin Self-Esteem boosting quotes and inspirational images instead of thinspo/fitspo

• Don't tweet yourself down. Celebrate your achievements, congratulate other people, but leave the body hating at home.  
• Share links to body-positive websites/blogs on Facebook instead of using it as a tool to compare yourself to others. 
• Feel like you lack content? Retweet others' posts, share things on facebook and pin away! Or how about tweeting an affirmation a day?
• Share beautiful notes on your social networks

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• Join Marci Anderson MS, RD and Dr. Deah Schwartz for a twitter chat on keeping a healthy body image in the summer months this Wednesday at 8:30pm EST (see more details here)
• Join the Me Movement (follow all tweets that have #mefirst)

What ways do you stay body positive on the internet?

Social Media & Body Image

We've discussed how traditional media can impact our body images negatively. But what about social media? I recently read an article about how Facebook may be contributing to insecurity and body image disorders. Just like any other social setting, the social media world can put pressure on us to strive for "perfection" and maybe even more so. Here is a quote from the article:

“Facebook is making it easier for people to spend more time and energy criticizing their own bodies and wishing they looked like someone else,” Dr. Harry Brandt, director of the Sheppard Pratt center, said in a statement. “In this age of modern technology and constant access to smartphones and the Internet, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to remove themselves from images and other triggers that promote negative body image, low self-esteem and may ultimately contribute to eating disorders.”

The article also states, "Facebook appears to be fueling a 'camera ready' mentality among the general public."

Have you felt these types of changes in yourself?

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It's time that we stop focusing so much on what we think is wrong with our bodies. Stop for a moment and ask yourself how long it's been since you have gone a day without having a negative body thought or heard someone else vocalize unhappiness with their own appearance? This type of negativity is a waste of precious energy. Life is too short to waste time hating on the only body you'll ever have. Appreciate it, treat it right, and let it carry you through the gift of life with grace and gratitude.

What are your thoughts about social media and body image? Here at Guiltless, we use social media as a way to promote self-love and appreciation, but the article discussed in this post explains how social media can also be used to promote self-hurt. How can we make sure that we're not poisoning our minds with negative thoughts about ourselves? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/04/2729178/facebook-may-hurt-body-image-contribute.html#storylink=cpy"

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/04/2729178/facebook-may-hurt-body-image-contribute.html#storylink=cpy