A new study published in PLOS One by Samantha Jones from Western University in Canada and her colleagues explored how watching body-related content on TikTok might affect self-perception and mood. The research involved 323 women and individuals who identify as feminine. Each participant viewed a random selection of 20 TikTok videos categorized into five types: thinspiration, fitspiration, body positivity, general positive content, and neutral content. After watching each video, they reported how they felt about their own appearance and their overall mood. Self-objectification refers to the tendency to view oneself primarily as an object, often based on physical appearance. The study found that participants experienced the highest levels of self-objectification after watching thinspiration videos, which promote thinness as an ideal. Fitspiration content, which focuses on fitness and exercise, also led to increased self-objectification, though to a lesser extent. Body-positive content, which celebrates diverse body types and promotes self-acceptance, was associated with a more positive mood. However, the positive mood effect was stronger for those who experienced higher levels of self-objectification after viewing body-positive videos. It is important to note that the study only measured immediate effects and did not assess long-term impacts. Additionally, participants did not have their baseline mood or self-objectification levels measured before watching the videos, which limits the ability to compare changes over time. The sample was also composed mostly of young individuals of average body size, which means the findings may not apply to all groups. The researchers concluded that content on social media focused on appearance can increase self-objectification, but the outcomes are not always negative. They suggest that future studies could look into ways to reduce the negative effects of thinspiration and fitspiration content, particularly for individuals more prone to self-objectification. The study shows that encountering different types of TikTok videos can influence both thoughts and emotions in the short term, highlighting the complex relationship between social media and self-perception.