Nowadays, we face an environment that our brains just haven’t evolved to cope with. For most of human history, we might have lived in small tribes and villages, where we instinctively and unthinkingly compared ourselves with one another.
In this natural state, there were attractive people, and not-quite-so-attractive people. Most people fell somewhere into the middle, and came to terms with it relatively quickly. Back then, there were other things worth worrying about.
A larger marketplace for beauty
Over the last few decades (which is barely a blink of an eye in terms of the evolution of the human brain), our environment has shifted rapidly. Thanks to social media, we’re exposed to images and videos of complete strangers, which have been artificially enhanced and curated. The effect on our body image has been sizeable.
We’re not only comparing ourselves to the most attractive people in the village, but to the most attractive people in the world. And then we’re digitally enhancing those people, and encouraging ourselves to compare ourselves to them. The effect this has on our mental health is difficult to understate.
Throw in the influence of the cosmetics industry, online dating applications, and cyberbullying, and the problem becomes even more severe.
The role of filters
We would face a problem if we merely compared ourselves to the most beautiful people on earth. But with modern tech, the problem goes deeper.
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat all offer means of filtering videos and editing photographs, using sophisticated AI tools, to remove perceived blemishes, smooth out flaws, and even alter the shape of a person’s body.
In some cases, these filters can prompt people to take real-life action to achieve a digitally-established standard for beauty.
What people are willing to do to reach beauty standards
In 2017, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery polled its members and discovered that 55% of patients were motivated by a desire to look better in selfies – an increase from just 13% the previous year.
There are a number of steps that people (and in particular young women) will take to achieve the face that they get from Facetune and other self-tweaking applications. Fillers, which are non-surgical and endorsed by the biggest influencers, are not without risks. In some cases, the patient can end up blinded. There exist some regulations designed to protect patients – but often, the patients themselves will travel to countries where these regulations are laxer.
If you’ve suffered any of these side effects as a result of a cosmetic intervention, then you might seek to pursue a medical negligence action. Those providing this variety of treatment are required to advise their patients – and so it might be that you have a claim even if you thought you were aware of all the risks.
Impact on self-esteem and mental health
Being constantly surrounded by unrealistic and demoralising standards for beauty can be very bad for your mental health. You might suffer from feelings of inadequacy, and depression, which correlate with your use of social media. In this digital environment, where everyone you see is more attractive than you, it’s only natural to feel slightly down about it.
Conclusion
One of the most difficult things about this issue is that social media is addictive by design. It will sit in your pocket and draw you in, making you feel bad about yourself when you’re feeling at your weakest. If you’re concerned about the impact it is having on you or the people you love, then you might consider limiting your exposure. Set limits on your social media time, set your phone aside, and indulge in some self-care.