In today’s society, the age of social media has changed the way we perceive physical beauty – and as a consequence, our mental well-being too. With a flurry of filters, photoshopped images, and influencers glamourising certain looks, it can be hard not to compare ourselves to the ever-changing standards of beauty set by our peers. In this article, we look into the influence social media has had over beauty perception and mental well-being.
1. The Ugly Side of Social Media: How It Impacts Views on Beauty
- Impersonal & Disconnected – Social media often creates unrealistic expectations about beauty and attractiveness. With airbrushed photos and filtered selfies, it’s hard for people to remember that beauty is not always perfect. This can lead to disconnect between real life and content online, leaving people feeling insecure and frustrated.
- Reinforces Unrealistic Ideals – Lofty standards for beauty are activated when people are exposed to others who may be “prettier” or “better looking”. These ideals can put extreme amounts of pressure on people to conform. It can also be difficult for people to find content on social media that reflects their own sense of beauty.
- Shifting Values – Modern standards of beauty don’t reflect the range of diversity in the real world. This can distort perceptions of beauty among users of the world’s largest platform. Unrepresentative content can lead to people making judgments about others based on the unrealistic standards reinforced by social media.
- Heavily Edited Content – Many people turn to social media for inspiration and trends. However, it is difficult to tell the difference between real people with authentic beauty and heavily edited photos of those who may have been through extensive beauty treatments. This can give the wrong impression and lead people to believe they need to do the same.
Social media can impact our views on beauty in a major way. It can be a source of both inspiration and discouragement. With heavily filtered and edited content, it is not always easy to tell what is real and what is not. It can lead people to unintentionally compare themselves to others and strive for unrealistic ideals. It can not only lead to a disconnected sense of beauty, but can also lead to people developing negative body image. Social media can be a helpful tool, but it is important to be mindful of the unrealistic expectations and body image issues that can come with it.
2. The Mental Health Costs of Comparing Ourselves to Social Media Influencers
These days, social media influencers seem to shine in an unattainable light, only adding to the urge people feel to compare themselves to others. But this comparison can have a serious effect on our mental health.
A Culture of Comparison
Our entire culture is now based on comparison; we are constantly comparing our homes, jobs, relationships, wardrobes, and even our bodies to those we view on social media. We overestimate the reality of what we see, somehow managing to forget that we are only being shown a staged version of someone’s life. Unfortunately, this creates a false standard for what is “normal”.
How It Impacts Your Mental Health
- It can make you feel insecure and self-conscious.
- It can lead to feelings of inadequacy.
- It can cause an internal struggle to change yourself to meet unrealistic standards.
- It can trigger anxiety and depression.
Comparing yourself to social media influencers can seem harmless. But what many of us don’t realize is that it is damaging our mental health, leading us to feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem. The best way to combat this is to recognize that social media isn’t real. It’s just a constructed version of the life people want to show.
3. Taking Back Our Perception of Beauty: Taking Control of Our Mindsets
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yet most of us in society are so inundated with the idea of what beauty should look like that we often lose sight of our own individual sense of it. It’s time for us to take back our perception of beauty and take control of our mindsets. Here are three ways to do it:
- Don’t Compete With Others: Comparison is the thief of joy and beauty isn’t a competition. It’s important to remember and appreciate that each of us is unique and individual. Acknowledge that there is beauty in everyone, and nurture your own instead of striving to be like someone else.
- Embrace Your Imperfections: Instead of focusing on what you want to change, spend time appreciating all the wonderful qualities that make you who you are. We all have “flaws”, but they are part of us, and embracing those quirks and idiosyncrasies can lead to a deep appreciation of our inner and outer beauty.
- Practice Self-Love: Cultivate a positive mindset and practice self-love in your everyday life. Speak kindly to yourself, applaud your accomplishments, and indulge in activities that make you feel joyous and content. This will allow you to reflect a radiating sense of inner beauty.
You are an individual, not a caricature or imitation of what society wants you to be. By taking these steps to recognize and acknowledge our own intrinsic beauty, we can create an empowering perception of beauty that stands as a beacon for others for years to come.
4. A New Perspective: Rediscovering Self-Love Through Social Media
With Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms, many of us are using social media to find new ways of expressing ourselves and exploring our innermost thoughts. From an educational perspective, it’s an amazingly powerful tool. In terms of personal development, it can provide invaluable insight into who we are and how we relate to others.
However, there is a growing awareness that some of our feedback-centric posts can perpetuate unhealthy cycles of perfectionism and comparison. Social media can also prime us to obsess over the details of our days, so much so that it’s difficult to value what matters most: our own self-love.
Allow us to propose a new perspective: rather than being driven by the adage of “perfection at all costs,” we should instead focus on using social media to help rediscover our self-love. There are a few ways to do that:
- Follow accounts that post content related to self-love and personal growth
- Share messages that lift ourselves and others up, rather than tear one another down
- Comment on friends’ and followers’ photos with words of affirmation or inspiring messages
By incorporating these ideas into how we use social media, we can start to build healthier attitudes and more balanced habits surrounding our interactions. Finding a renewed sense of self-love through social media won’t happen overnight, but by consistently practicing these techniques, we’ll all be rewarded with healthier, more fulfilling relationships with ourselves and our digital selves.
It is clear that social media has changed our perception and expectations of beauty. We have a responsibility to ourselves to use this digital platform with care and moderation. By being mindful of our scrolling habits and engaging more with those that make us feel good, we can better protect our mental well-being and body positivity. Let’s strive to use social media as a force of good and positivity, always striving to make beauty a source of celebration rather than comparison.
