Image Dysmorphia on Digital Platforms: an Analysis of the Policies and Terms of Use on Instagram and Spark AR

This paper aims to investigate structural and social elements aimed at settling or exposing individuals to digital risks and vulnerabilities through Instagram policies and guidelines. We focus on content management, especially image, such as filters of face editing and modification that are available on these platforms, in the Brazilian context. Therefore, we seek to understand how these elements can contribute to the wider discussion on the use of filters and their relationship with mental disorders, such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Such idealization rely on the relationship between the beautiful and the desirable and can be maximized by the dissemination of augmented reality (AR) resources. The research follows a methodological approach based on Bardin’s Content Analysis, consisting of three phases: pre-analysis and material exploitation, development of analysis categories, and treatment of results. Our corpus of analysis is composed of the documents shared by the platforms: terms of use, community guidelines, data/privacy policies, and policy on cookies. The main contributions of this paper include: i) Emphasizes the importance of considering content in platform studies, an often-neglected dimension; ii) Explores interoperability between platforms and the balance between centralization and decentralization; iii) Recognizes the significant role of content in attracting users and understanding consumption trends; iv) Systematically analyzes the policies and guidelines of platforms such Instagram, Spark AR, and Facebook, to understand user-platform dynamics; v) Highlights the need for further research and best practices in content practices, particularly in appearance-related features like filters, with potential impacts on body image and self-esteem.