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Theory Lesson Resources�Lesson 6�Social media, physical activity and body image

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Lesson 5 Recap

Homework

Did you notice any changes to your feed, advertisements, or content after following the new pages?
Was there anything specific to nutrition or resistance training?
What does this tell us about how social media works?

ACTIVITY 1

ACTIVITY 1 – Recap Homework activity ⌚ 10 min.

Teacher asks students about their homework activity by answering the following questions:

Did you notice any changes in your social media feed content after following new pages?
Were there any different advertisements, pop-ups, feeds. Did you notice anything specific to resistance training?
What does this tell us about how social media works?

Teacher introduces concept of persuasion- to change people's ideas or to buy something. What you search for, like or follow on social media will change your content and what you see. Persuasion on social media can be obvious or subtle, e.g., obvious advertisements (e.g., supplement advertisements) vs subtle or hidden persuasion via influencers or celebrities (e.g., think or muscular idealisation in resistance training).

Introduce concept of thin / muscular internalisation (e.g., coat hanger model, lean muscular aesthetic) and importance of focusing on health rather than how the body looks as part of resistance training.

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Social Media and Persuasion

Persuasion: To change people's ideas or to buy something

Can you think of some examples of persuasion you have seen on social media around exercise?

ACTIVITY 1

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What is body image?

Body image is among the top three concerns for young people in Australia

Body image is a combination of the thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs we have about our bodies and the way we look

Our feelings about our bodies can change over time and can range from positive to negative (e.g., body image dissatisfaction)

ACTIVITY 1

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Social media and body image

Careful consideration of how you use social media and the people you follow is important in building a positive relationship with your body

Social media is one of the most common contributors to body image dissatisfaction

Social media images are filtered and edited to promote an unrealistic appearance that cannot be achieved in real life

ACTIVITY 2

Resources: Evaluating Social Images Worksheet

ACTIVITY 2 – Evaluating Social Media Images ⌚ 20 min.

Students will deconstruct social media images related to resistance training (e.g., Kim Kardashian, Dylan Alcott, Chris Hemsworth, Lorna Jane, The Rock). Students will review images. To review the images, they will answer questions and work on a worksheet.

Worksheet

Questions

What is your response to these?
How do these images make you look or feel?
Do you think these images put pressure on young people to look a certain way?
What aspects are exaggerated? Are they authentic?
Can you identify examples of persuasion in the images?
How do you think the people in these images want to be viewed?
Place images in order of least to most authentic / realistic (could be done as a group)

After students completed their worksheet, content will be discussed via a class discussion about findings

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Deconstructing social media images

Your turn!

Pick two of the following images from Instagram and answer these questions:

What is your response to each of these images?
How do the images make you feel about resistance training?
Do you think any of these images put pressure on young people to look a certain way?
Are there any aspects that are exaggerated in the images?
Are there any examples of persuasion or advertisements in any of the images?
How do you think the people in these images want to be viewed?

Place the six images in order of what you think is least to most realistic

ACTIVITY 2

Resources: Evaluating Social Images Worksheet

ACTIVITY 2 – Evaluating Social Media Images ⌚ 20 min.

Students will deconstruct social media images related to resistance training (e.g., Kim Kardashian, Dylan Alcott, Chris Hemsworth, Lorna Jane, The Rock). Students will review images. To review the images, they will answer questions and work on a worksheet.

Worksheet

Questions

What is your response to these?
How do these images make you look or feel?
Do you think these images put pressure on young people to look a certain way?
What aspects are exaggerated? Are they authentic?
Can you identify examples of persuasion in the images?
How do you think the people in these images want to be viewed?
Place images in order of least to most authentic / realistic (could be done as a group)

After students completed their worksheet, content will be discussed via a class discussion about findings

Desired responses: some of these images focus on aesthetics as opposed to resistance training for health, advertisements and marketing of brands, some may encourage an unrealistic body image while others are more realistic

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@mfanno

@therock

@lornajaneactive

ACTIVITY 2

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@chrishemsworth

@kimkardashian

@samanthakerr20

ACTIVITY 2

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Scenario

You notice a friend seems pressured to look leaner and more muscular after seeing images of influencers on social media ��What actions would you suggest to your friend to encourage them to feel more body positive?

ACTIVITY 3

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Six Ways to be Body Positive

Butterfly Foundation

ACTIVITY 3