Presenter: Lillian Huang
Put Title Here: Conflicting Body Ideals on TikTok: Female Undergraduate Students’ Experiences of Body Image
Type of Presentation: Poster presentation
Abstract：This poster presentation introduces my proposed research project on how female undergraduate students experience body image messages on TikTok. I became interested in this topic because TikTok users often see body positive videos and idealized body videos close together while scrolling. Previous research shows that social media can encourage comparison and affect young women’s body image, and some studies also show that body positive content may help people feel better about their bodies. However, many studies focus on Instagram, surveys, or only one type of content. They do not fully explain how students feel when different body messages appear quickly in the same TikTok feed. My project asks: How do female undergraduate students experience the rapid change between body positive and idealized content on TikTok, and how does this affect their body image? I would use qualitative interviews with 12 to 15 female undergraduate students who use TikTok daily. I would look for common themes in their emotions, comparisons, and interpretations. This presentation will discuss the expected findings and limits of the proposed study.
Biography：Lillian Huang is a Vantage Arts student at the University of British Columbia. Her academic interests include social media, psychology, gender, and youth culture. In this project, she explores how TikTok may shape young women’s body image and self-perception. She hopes to better understand how digital platforms influence everyday feelings, comparison, and identity.
