Analysis of elements of body representation in virtual networks among Iranian Instagram users

The aim of this study is to investigate the factors related to body representation in virtual networks (Case study: Iranian Instagram users) and to identify the role of people using Instagram social network in their social, displaying and aesthetic body representation, which the researchers intend to achieve the intented goals by testing four research hypotheses.  In the present study, the research method was integrated and two qualitative type with content analysis and interview techniques and quantitative method (survey) with questionnaire technique. According to the objectives and characteristics of the research, in the qualitative part of the statistical sample of the research, there are 20 Instagram users with more than 1000 followers (they show themselves at least three times during the day), of which 60 photos from their page are were analyzed. Also, the sample size in a small portion of 384 citizens residing in Tehran in 2019. For sampling in quantitative and qualitative methods, cluster sampling method and saturation method have been used, respectively. The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between the number of people using the Instagram social network and the extent of representation of the social, displaying and aesthetic body. Researchers also found in the analysis of the representation of photos on the Instagram social network, in terms of representation techniques used, in the social body type, the disclosure and concealment techniques, in the body display model, the techniques of experience and seduction, and finally in the body aesthetic model, th aesthetic and artificial beauty techniques are used.