(PS14-22) To Be or Not to Be Influenced: Associations Between Following Influencers on Tiktok and Body Dissatisfaction

The job title of an influencer has only recently emerged in the last few years with the continued growth in popularity of social media platforms. While existing literature provides a general overview of the consequences that these platforms have on mental health and body image, there is little information about the role influencers may play in the development of these issues. TikTok stands out as a platform where influencers are often showcased through the “For You Page” algorithm, in contrast to the workings of other social media platforms. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to examine how following influencers on this specific platform may be impacting the body dissatisfaction of viewers. We hypothesized that the participants who followed influencers on TikTok would have significantly higher body dissatisfaction as opposed to those who do not. Two hundred ninety-six female identifying regular social media users (M_age=37.30; M_BMI = 27.93) were enrolled from Prolific, a participant recruitment platform as part of a larger study. Participants were asked to complete a measure about their social media habits including how often they used it and whether they followed influencers. Participants were grouped based on whether they did or did not follow influencers on TikTok. Participants also completed the Body Shape Questionnaire – 8 item version to assess body dissatisfaction. On average, participants used social media for 115.61 minutes per day (SD=100.72). Individuals who followed influencers on TikTok (M= 25.60) had significantly greater body dissatisfaction than those who did not follow influencers (M=21.61), t(286)=3.27, p=.001, d=.39. Based on these results, those who are following influencers on TikTok are potentially more susceptible to body dissatisfaction, which has been linked to increased risk for eating disorders. Therapists and healthcare providers involved in the treatment of eating disorders should consider assessing patients’ specific social media behaviors including whether they are following influencers given the elevated risk demonstrated here. These results suggest more research is needed to determine whether there is a causal relationship between following influencers on TikTok and body dissatisfaction or other eating-related outcomes. Further, more research is needed to establish whether these relationships exist across other platforms. These findings provide additional support for ongoing legislative efforts to limit the content that is accessible on these sites.