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Blurring the boundaries of the self: Instagram's impact on bodily identity and multisensory experience among young adults.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Blurring the boundaries of the self: Instagram's impact on bodily identity and multisensory experience among young adults.
Authors: Sansoni, Maria1,2 (AUTHOR) maria.sansoni@unicatt.it, Portingale, Jade1,3 (AUTHOR), De Gaspari, Stefano2,4 (AUTHOR), Brizzi, Giulia1,5 (AUTHOR), Chorzępa, Magdalena6 (AUTHOR), Riva, Giuseppe2,5 (AUTHOR)
Source: Computers in Human Behavior. Oct2026, Vol. 183, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subject Terms: *Social media, *Adults, Task performance, Multiple regression analysis, Body image, Descriptive statistics, Perceptual illusions, Heart beat, Virtual reality, Self-perception
Abstract: Social media use is believed to shift users' focus to the outer body (i.e., physical appearance). However, this perspective may simplify the relationship between social media use and body perception. This study aimed to extend current knowledge by examining how three Instagram usage variables (i.e., daily time spent on Instagram, years of Instagram use, and Instagram beauty filter use) affect not only body image, but also individuals' inner body perception (i.e., interoception) and the integration of internal and external bodily experiences (i.e., embodiment). A sample of 95 young adults (64% women; M age = 25.8 years, SD = 4.25) completed self-reported measures of social media usage and body image concerns, underwent a heartbeat tracking task for assessing cardiac interoceptive accuracy and confidence, and experienced two virtual reality-based body illusions assessing face and full-body embodiment. Following multiple linear regression analyses, no social media usage variables were significantly associated with body image concerns or interoception. However, years of Instagram use and Instagram beauty filter use were uniquely associated with heightened susceptibility to face and full-body embodiment, respectively. We hypothesized that prolonged Instagram use and exposure to idealized, homogenized appearance-focused content may blur the perceptual boundary between self and others, a central process to bodily identity. Over time, this could contribute to an erosion of bodily identity. These results highlight a novel pathway through which social media use may shape self-perception: not by altering body image but by disrupting the integration of internal and external bodily experiences. • The study analyzed how Instagram use shapes bodily self-experience. • Instagram use did not influence body image concerns or interoception. • Years spent on Instagram predicted increased face embodiment. • Beauty filter use was tentatively associated with greater full-body embodiment. • Prolonged exposure may blur self–other boundaries and bodily identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:Social media use is believed to shift users' focus to the outer body (i.e., physical appearance). However, this perspective may simplify the relationship between social media use and body perception. This study aimed to extend current knowledge by examining how three Instagram usage variables (i.e., daily time spent on Instagram, years of Instagram use, and Instagram beauty filter use) affect not only body image, but also individuals' inner body perception (i.e., interoception) and the integration of internal and external bodily experiences (i.e., embodiment). A sample of 95 young adults (64% women; M age = 25.8 years, SD = 4.25) completed self-reported measures of social media usage and body image concerns, underwent a heartbeat tracking task for assessing cardiac interoceptive accuracy and confidence, and experienced two virtual reality-based body illusions assessing face and full-body embodiment. Following multiple linear regression analyses, no social media usage variables were significantly associated with body image concerns or interoception. However, years of Instagram use and Instagram beauty filter use were uniquely associated with heightened susceptibility to face and full-body embodiment, respectively. We hypothesized that prolonged Instagram use and exposure to idealized, homogenized appearance-focused content may blur the perceptual boundary between self and others, a central process to bodily identity. Over time, this could contribute to an erosion of bodily identity. These results highlight a novel pathway through which social media use may shape self-perception: not by altering body image but by disrupting the integration of internal and external bodily experiences. • The study analyzed how Instagram use shapes bodily self-experience. • Instagram use did not influence body image concerns or interoception. • Years spent on Instagram predicted increased face embodiment. • Beauty filter use was tentatively associated with greater full-body embodiment. • Prolonged exposure may blur self–other boundaries and bodily identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:07475632
DOI:10.1016/j.chb.2026.109054