A 2017 study by the Royal Society for Public Health among British youth aged 14 to 24 concluded that Instagram is the social network that most negatively influences our body image. This is because Instagram is a social network where success and popularity are measured by the number of likes on photos and followers a user has. This immediate reward acts as positive reinforcement for the type of image we project, while its absence can lead us to change it to conform to idealized body image standards that don't reflect reality.

The images we post of our bodies on Instagram are based on societal stereotypes, and the vast majority are retouched with filters. We are frequently exposed to biased comparisons with others, and we are judged accordingly. People with healthy self-esteem are less vulnerable to the effects of these comparisons.