Picture This: The Downside of Social Media
Written by: Sian Bitner-Kearney
Ah, remember the days when your friend would take a photo of you, and you had to wait for it to be developed to see how you looked? When you finally got to see the photo, it was a delightful surprise of imperfections. Perhaps your hair was in disarray, or your eyes were mid-blink, and that pose—what were you thinking? But guess what? Everyone’s pictures looked that way, and we laughed about it because that was real life, those were real people, and photos were taken merely for memories, not to boost confidence or followers.
Me, circa 1995 in Miami. A real picture, a real mess, and a real memory that I still hold tight to almost 30 years later.
In today’s digital era, our smartphones have become extensions of ourselves, and everything we see, everything we do, and everyone we do it with must be photographed and shared on our social accounts. When we’re not posting, we’re scrolling. Often, this virtual window can uplift us, filling us with joy from shared experiences. However, there are moments when the curated perfection we witness can cast a shadow of doubt over our self-esteem, prompting us to question our own value in a sea of seemingly flawless faces.
According to Science Direct, frequent social media use can lead to unrealistic body image ideals and anxiety about one’s appearance. Social media can additionally increase body image dissatisfaction leading to depression and eating disorders.
Although body dysmorphia only impacts about 2% of the general population, about 60% of that 2% are women. What’s worse is that the average age that most women begin experiencing symptoms is around 12 or 13 (IOCDF). This obsession with one’s body and the constant stress to try and “fix” all of the perceived imperfections often leads to a road paved with cosmetic surgery and an increased risk of suicidal tendencies (recovery village).
Although spaces like Rock Your Beauty are trying to change the perception of what beauty is, technology, like the filters we see on social channels, make it more and more difficult to do. Even virtual platforms like Zoom and Teams now have filter options allowing you to blur or “improve” your appearance. Today’s filters aren’t even the filters of 10 years ago. You can now completely change your face, your shape, and even your hair color, which sadly can also completely change your view of what beauty is.
An example of common filters. The first photo is me, unfiltered. The rest are filters I used from TikTok and Instagram.
Don’t get me wrong, there are women and girls out there who were born practically "perfect." Their skin, their hair, their height, and their bodies seem to just naturally fit the mold of the typical beauty standard. However, these people are anomalies, and the fact that their beauty is most acceptable in society doesn’t actually mean that they are any more beautiful than you or I.
The reality is, in the United States, the average woman stands at approximately 5’4" tall and weighs around 170 pounds (Very Well). Despite this, there persists a relentless promotion of platforms and filters that produce an unattainable beauty ideal.
We must learn that beauty has a million faces. Beauty has different skin types and shades, different sizes and shapes, and there is no limit on her age. Beauty does not mean perfection. It’s the little things about you that make you unique. You don’t need filters to create the perfect version of yourself because she already exists. Put down your phone and take a long look in the mirror; therein lies true beauty, not in pixels, but in your reflection.