Between Filters and Feeds: Investigating Douyin and WeChat's Influence on Chinese Adolescent Body Image

TL;DR

This study investigates how Douyin and WeChat influence body image among Chinese male adolescents, revealing that Douyin's video-centric environment significantly impacts body satisfaction, unlike WeChat.

Contribution

It provides new insights into platform-specific effects on adolescent body image, emphasizing the role of algorithm-driven, video-based social media environments.

Findings

Douyin usage correlates with appearance evaluation and body satisfaction.

WeChat shows no significant correlation with body image dimensions.

Platform characteristics mediate social media's psychological impact.

Abstract

In the digital era, social media platforms play a pivotal role in shaping adolescents' body image perceptions. This study examines how Douyin and WeChat, two contrasting Chinese social media platforms, influence body image among Chinese male adolescents. Employing a platformization perspective, we surveyed 395 male adolescents aged 10 to 24 using the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scales (MBSRQ-AS) to assess self-evaluation and body satisfaction. Our findings reveal that Douyin usage is significantly correlated with appearance evaluation and body area satisfaction, while WeChat usage shows no significant correlation with any body image dimensions. These results suggest that Douyin's algorithm-driven, video-centric environment intensifies exposure to idealized body standards, impacting users at a cognitive level. This study underscores the importance of considering platform-specific characteristics in understanding social media's impact on body image. It contributes to the broader discourse on how technological design and content modalities mediate psychological outcomes, offering insights for addressing body image concerns among male adolescents in China.