Ideally, I’d Comment... How Comment Context Shapes Engagement with Ideal and Nonideal Instagram Posts
Faculty Sponsor(s)
Kiki Fornero and Tanya Tompkins
Subject Area
Psychology
Description
Nonidealized bodies are a normative part of everyday life yet remain underrepresented in mainstream media. Although image-based social media platforms increasingly feature nonideal bodies and body-positive content, little is known about how user-generated comments shape engagement. A total of 606 mostly cis-gender, ethnically diverse participants were randomized to view Instagram-like posts varying by image (ideal/nonideal) and comment type (none, reinforcing, challenging, mixed). Participants reported whether they would scroll, like, and/or comment. Research assistants masked to study design coded 546 comments (generated by 205 participants; Mage=23.24) for emoji use, valence and engagement. Interrater reliability was acceptable to strong (average Fleiss’ kappa=.50). Logistic and negative binomial regression models indicated non-ideal images elicited greater engagement than ideal images, with participants more likely to comment and post more comments. Challenging comments increased the likelihood of commenting relative to no comments, though not overall volume. Challenging and mixed comments increased both the likelihood and amount of engagement with other commenters. Comment valence was overwhelmingly positive, emoji use was infrequent, and both were stable across conditions. These findings suggest nonideal images, particularly when paired with challenging comments, may stimulate engagement on social media. Future research should examine downstream effects on user outcomes and body-related social norms.
Recommended Citation
Gerges, Rana T.; Ware, Aaliyah I.; Whisenhunt, Madison F.; and Gilbert-Allen, Emali O., "Ideally, I’d Comment... How Comment Context Shapes Engagement with Ideal and Nonideal Instagram Posts" (2026). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 6.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2026/all/6
Ideally, I’d Comment... How Comment Context Shapes Engagement with Ideal and Nonideal Instagram Posts
Nonidealized bodies are a normative part of everyday life yet remain underrepresented in mainstream media. Although image-based social media platforms increasingly feature nonideal bodies and body-positive content, little is known about how user-generated comments shape engagement. A total of 606 mostly cis-gender, ethnically diverse participants were randomized to view Instagram-like posts varying by image (ideal/nonideal) and comment type (none, reinforcing, challenging, mixed). Participants reported whether they would scroll, like, and/or comment. Research assistants masked to study design coded 546 comments (generated by 205 participants; Mage=23.24) for emoji use, valence and engagement. Interrater reliability was acceptable to strong (average Fleiss’ kappa=.50). Logistic and negative binomial regression models indicated non-ideal images elicited greater engagement than ideal images, with participants more likely to comment and post more comments. Challenging comments increased the likelihood of commenting relative to no comments, though not overall volume. Challenging and mixed comments increased both the likelihood and amount of engagement with other commenters. Comment valence was overwhelmingly positive, emoji use was infrequent, and both were stable across conditions. These findings suggest nonideal images, particularly when paired with challenging comments, may stimulate engagement on social media. Future research should examine downstream effects on user outcomes and body-related social norms.