Looking in the digital mirror: Researchers introduce concept of ‘social self-comparison’

It started with a TikTok trend. Makenzie Schroeder, a graduate student in the University of Missouri’s College of Arts and Science, noticed people were posting filtered photos of themselves looking slimmer, often captioned with phrases such as “my motivation.” These weren’t photos of celebrities or influencers; rather, people were posting filtered selfies, shared as ideal versions of themselves.

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