This picture does not portray reality: developing and testing a disclaimer for digitally enhanced pictures on social media appropriate for Austrian tweens and teens

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research has shown that idealized beauty presented in mass media can have a detrimental effect on body satisfaction, and these idealized images often stem from digital alterations. Consequently, countries like France and Israel employ disclaimers that inform viewers about the use of such modifications. Previous research, primarily conducted with adult women, has pointed out that these disclaimers are ineffective in reducing the perceived realism of the presented images, leading to negative effects on women’s body satisfaction. However, we know little about the effectiveness of such disclaimers for tweens and teens (TT). Using a two-study design, we firstly developed an adolescent-inspired disclaimer in two cocreation workshops with students (N = 47; aged 12–14 years). Secondly, we examined the effectiveness of this newly developed disclaimer in an experimental setting (N = 186; participants aged 10–19 years). We compared the new disclaimer to the existing one as well as to a condition in which there was no disclaimer. Results indicated that disclaimers are a rather unsuccessful way of disclosing the lack of realism of media images for TT, underlining the urgency of developing more effective media literacy measures. IMPACT SUMMARY a. Prior State of Knowledge: Beauty ideals are shaped by media, but these are often set using digitally altered images. Some countries employ disclaimers that inform viewers about alterations. Previous research indicates that these disclaimers are not effective in balancing detrimental effects of unrealistic beauty ideals among adults. b.Novel Contributions: This study focuses on adolescents and considers image alterations on social media. In a cocreation workshop we developed a disclaimer with adolescents, which we employed in an experimental study. Results underline that disclaimers are rather unsuccessful in disclosing the lack of realism of media images. c. Practical Implications: Disclaimers are not a sufficient media literacy measure. Yet, as young audiences are so frequently confronted with altered and perfected images (particularly online), it seems crucial to educate them about these practices in specific media literacy programs.