A new Australian study has revealed how social media comments targeting body image can affect the brains of teenage girls, even when they are not the ones being singled out.
Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast used brain imaging technology to observe what happens inside the minds of girls aged 14 to 18 when they read social media posts attacking someone’s body shape, weight or size. The study is the first in Australia to measure brain responses to body image-related cyberbullying, commonly referred to as BRC.
PhD candidate Taliah Prince, the study’s lead author, said the findings offer new insight into how young people process harmful online content both emotionally and cognitively.
“When the girls read BRC content, we saw increased activity in areas of the brain involved in emotional regulation, visual processing and social cognition,” she said. “For those who had recently been cyberbullied themselves, the images triggered memory and attention regions, suggesting they may have been reliving their own experiences.”
One unexpected finding came from girls who did not report being unhappy with their bodies. These participants showed stronger responses in brain regions associated with reward and emotional regulation.
“That could be acting as a protective response,” Prince said. “It might be helping them buffer the emotional impact of what they are seeing.”
The study found 61 percent of participants had experienced cyberbullying recently. More than 90 percent had witnessed it. Around a third said they were dissatisfied with their own bodies.
While most research into this issue has focused on victims or perpetrators, this study examined the effect on those who see the bullying unfold but are not directly targeted.
“There’s increasing evidence that simply seeing this kind of bullying can make young girls feel worse about their own bodies,” Prince said. “Now we can also see what happens in the brain when that takes place.”
The research builds on earlier findings from the Thompson Institute, which showed that 96 percent of girls who experienced appearance-related cyberbullying (ARC) said they wanted to change how they looked. More than 80 percent said they had considered cosmetic procedures.
ARC is the most common form of cyberbullying among teenage girls, and body image-related attacks are at its core.
“This work shows that cyberbullying affects more than just psychological wellbeing. It has an impact on the way the brain responds, especially in areas involved in how girls see themselves and their peers,” Prince said.
This matters during adolescence, a period where identity is being formed and appearance becomes more emotionally charged. Teenagers are especially sensitive to peer feedback, whether online or in person.
“Teenage girls are in a vulnerable stage,” Prince said. “They are trying to figure out who they are. They’re more self-conscious and more affected by what others think. Body-shaming taps directly into that.”
Prince believes the findings reinforce the importance of early intervention. Promoting body positivity, she said, could help reduce harm. Equally important is teaching teenagers how to think critically about what they encounter online.
She said the research also raises bigger questions about how social media fits into young people’s lives.
“Should platforms be doing more to prevent this type of bullying? Should there be tighter controls on how appearance is discussed online? These are questions we can’t ignore.”
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