Previous research has found that the use of social media, including Instagram, might lead to adverse body image outcomes such as body dissatisfaction. So far, there are only a few experimental studies dedicated to this topic. Although providing important insights, they have several limitations: on the one hand, they are based on small and selective samples, which hinders the findings’ generalizability. On the other hand, they measure Instagram use via self-reports, which might introduce measurement errors due to social desirability or recall bias. We aim to address the existing research gaps by conducting a two-wave survey using a German probability-based sample of male and female Instagram users to measure how a seven-day abstinence from Instagram use will affect their body image. In addition to providing detailed information on their Instagram use, respondents will be asked to donate their Instagram data. Our
study has two main objectives: first, we contribute to existing body image research by experimentally measuring whether abstaining from using Instagram has an effect on users’ body image. For this purpose, we use the donated data to control whether respondents actually complied with the treatment. Second, we assess whether and to what extent the respondents’ self-reports match their donated data. In the long-term, our findings contribute to the development of robust instruments for measuring digital behavior. Such instruments are crucial, e.g., for the design of interventions aimed at preventing the adverse effects of social media on body image and well-being.
