social media beauty standards essay

Open Access is an initiative that aims to make scientific research freely available to all. To date our community has made over 100 million downloads. It’s based on principles of collaboration, unobstructed discovery, and, most importantly, scientific progression. As PhD students, we found it difficult to access the research we needed, so we decided to create a new Open Access publisher that levels the playing field for scientists across the world. How? By making research easy to access, and puts the academic needs of the researchers before the business interests of publishers.

We are a community of more than 103,000 authors and editors from 3,291 institutions spanning 160 countries, including Nobel Prize winners and some of the world’s most-cited researchers. Publishing on IntechOpen allows authors to earn citations and find new collaborators, meaning more people see your work not only from your own field of study, but from other related fields too.

Brief introduction to this section that descibes Open Access especially from an IntechOpen perspective

Want to get in touch? Contact our London head office or media team here

Our team is growing all the time, so we’re always on the lookout for smart people who want to help us reshape the world of scientific publishing.

Home > Books > Beauty - Cosmetic Science, Cultural Issues and Creative Developments

Social Media and Its Effects on Beauty

Submitted: 16 March 2020 Reviewed: 06 July 2020 Published: 21 September 2020

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.93322

Cite this chapter

There are two ways to cite this chapter:

From the Edited Volume

Beauty - Cosmetic Science, Cultural Issues and Creative Developments

Edited by Martha Peaslee Levine and Júlia Scherer Santos

To purchase hard copies of this book, please contact the representative in India: CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd. www.cbspd.com | [email protected]

Chapter metrics overview

5,971 Chapter Downloads

Impact of this chapter

Total Chapter Downloads on intechopen.com

Total Chapter Views on intechopen.com

Overall attention for this chapters

Beauty is concerned with physical and mental health as both are intimately related. Short-term decisions to alter one’s body structure irrespective of genetic, environmental, occupational and nutritional needs can leave medium- and long-term effects. This chapter analyzes the role of social media and its effects on the standards of beauty. The researchers have summarized the literature on how social media plays a role in affecting beauty trends, body image and self-esteem concerns. There is support that social media affects individuals negatively, in pushing them to engage in life threatening beauty trends due to social compliance and acceptance in society. The aim was to review social networking sites’ impact on perception of standards of beauty and newer unrealistic trends gaining popularity that could alter opinions and also cause harm to individuals in the long run. This is an emerging area of research that is of high importance to the physical and mental health in the beauty, health and hospitality industry with the latter being manifested in depression, anxiety and fear of non-acceptability and being seen as a social gauche.

• social media
• self-esteem
• body modification
• body dissatisfaction

Author Information

Mavis henriques *.

• Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Goa Campus, India

Debasis Patnaik

• Department of Economics, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Goa Campus, India

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

Social media refers to the use of websites and applications to create and share content or to participate in social networking [ 1 ]. Technological developments have given rise to various gadgets including smart-phones, tablets, and laptops to robots too. Living in a digitized era, communication has now become easier and faster with the emergence of various social applications available at the click of a button. While many may agree that social media has connected individuals globally, it has also been used to set standards of beauty for males, females as well as the third gender. This in turn has been known to affect the self-esteem of individuals with regards to body image, body modification and how they view themselves in society. In order to be accepted in society females have to battle body image issues from a very young age, where thin is considered to be the ideal body type [ 2 ].

This chapter focuses on the effects of social media on standards of beauty. We review the literature on the role of social media and how they affect the physical and psychological beauty of individuals in society.

2. Effects of social media on the aspects of body image

Today, Social Media is one of the most important factors contributing to the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health of an individual. With the media constantly portraying ideal beauty and body image comparisons, the decisions of men and women’s beauty choices are globally affected.

“Body image refers to a person’s perception of their physical self and the thoughts and feelings, positive, negative or both, which result from that perception” [ 3 ]. Social media has had a major impact on the perceptual, affective, cognitive and behavioral aspects of body image [ 3 ] by encouraging lean body patterns and delivering anti-obesity messages [ 4 ]. Eating disorders determine a distorted relationship between the individual, their eating behavior and body shape [ 5 ]. Adolescence being a crucial age for positive and negative development of body image, the self-esteem and body dissatisfaction adolescents feel are known predictors of eating disorders [ 6 ]. Continuous pursuit for the perfect slender lean body may generate negative feelings which can result in a change in eating behavior, thereby increasing the chances of weight issues and eating disorders [ 4 , 7 ]. Social media portrays women who are slim as being more beautiful and successful compared to overweight women [ 8 ]. Body image misperception and dissatisfaction with body weight highlight an association between body dissatisfaction and psychological wellbeing [ 9 ].

3. Self-esteem issues in response to social media effects

Body image concerns are common in women and men globally, but social media has now increased these concerns through advertising, videos and the use of social media. Milkie [ 10 ] conducted in-depth interviews on 60 white and minority girls to examine the effect of media on self-esteem. Results indicated that most girls felt that the images shown in media were unrealistic and not real. White girls felt that boys evaluated them on the basis of the images found on media platforms whereas the minority girls felt that the images portrayed on media did not meet the expectations of the reference group they oriented themselves with. The evolution from adolescence to adulthood has seen 12–16 teenage girls experience emotional changes in interpersonal and intrapersonal development as well as bodily changes such as sudden weight gain and transition from a young girl to a fully grown woman [ 11 , 12 ]. In today’s world, the self-presentation of beauty and perceptions of others plays an important role in developing identities in girls [ 13 , 14 ]. New interactive platforms present in social media demonstrate how self-presentations and peer influences are interrelated with the standards of beauty [ 15 ]. Many women may imitate their ideal media personality due to the social, psychological and practical rewards associated with this ideal and the belief that their life would change for the better [ 16 ].

4. Social media: trends in behavioral outcomes

Social media comprises of social networking sites, image sharing sites, video hosting sites, community blogs, bookmarking sites and gaming sites. Fellow comparisons about self-image and appearances in teenagers have resulted due to social networking sites (SNSs) such as Instagram and Facebook [ 17 ]. Teenage girls engage in online self-presentation of posting selfies and sharing the outfit of the day pictures to differentiate themselves with their peers [ 18 ]. Media images of ideal beauty standards influence the content and sharing of pictures teenage girls’ post [ 19 ]. Individuals are constantly seeking feedback on SNSs through likes, followers and comments to uphold a perfect and stable image of themselves [ 20 ]. Teenage girls are vulnerable to the upward comparison as it means that they need to improve their beauty standards, thereby leaving them dissatisfied with their physical bodies, having doubts about their self-worth and also driving them to self-harm behavior [ 20 , 21 ].

Taking selfies and sharing them on popular social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat has increased at an alarming rate during the recent years. A recent study compared selfie takers and non selfie takers and their perceptions of their selfies versus photographs clicked by others. Results indicated that selfie takers perceived themselves as more attractive and likable in their selfies as opposed to pictures taken by others leading to positive distortions of the self [ 22 ]. Biases in self-face recognition were seen in men and women in selecting the most attractive modified pictures of themselves [ 23 ]. Selfies are no harm per se. But obsession with physical features reveals a lack of holistic perception of self-generated sub-consciously, following an “outside” standard of beauty not defined by the “inner self” of the receiver.

Popular socialites Kim and Khloe Kardashian have been slammed with media reports of them using photoshop to edit Instagram selfies by making unrealistic alterations to look thinner and more toned. Emily Bryngelson, an associate designer struggling with an eating disorder, admitted to deleting pictures if they did not receive enough “likes.” The time spent on Facebook photos was linked to self-objectification, weight dissatisfaction, thin idealization and pursuit of thinness [ 15 ].

5. Social media and unrealistic beauty standards

There are multiple factors that affect the beauty standards in the world today, which involve women and men and the third gender individuals trying new trends to be socially accepted. The purchasing decisions of millennials are influenced majorly by social media [ 24 ]. 72% of millennials procure beauty products based on Instagram posts and other social networks [ 25 ]. Makeup consists of the application of cosmetic products to beautify or change the way one looks either artistically or to conceal flaws. Jang-Soon and Hye-Jin [ 26 ] investigated 240 teenage males’ preferences for makeup use. Results indicated that their appearance was one of the major reasons for their social success. The male respondents who were young, unmarried and city residents had an overall positive perception about cosmetics [ 26 ]. With bloggers constantly advertising on social media, cosmetic products, have gained popularity.

The images on social media sites are idealized and unreal, due to digital alteration thereby setting high expectations from individuals in society. Imperfections are removed by airbrushing and using other digitized apps to whiten teeth, slim waists and reduce sizes in order to be accepted as beauty ideals [ 27 ]. These techniques may further lead to negative consequences of increased body dissatisfaction, body modification and low self-esteem issues. Unrealistic images of feminity, beauty, success and body shape promoted through social media images are associated with development of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction disorders [ 28 , 29 ].

Filters and beauty apps represent another area in which social media has a major influence. Beauty apps encourage women to see and surveil themselves within a “pedagogy of defect” [ 30 ]. They include filters and modification apps, surgery try out apps, and esthetic benchmarking apps which help individuals visualize how they will look after certain changes such as teeth whitening, eye bag removal and also whether the individual looks old or young [ 31 ].

“Body modification refers to the deliberate or permanent altering of an individual’s human anatomy or appearance” [ 32 ]. They involve two aspects: the processes that modify form or contours of the body such as metabolic manipulation (weight lifting, extreme dieting, use of drugs/steroids, hormones), cosmetic surgeries and procedures (liposuction, face-lifts, rhinoplasty, botox, eye lash extensions), genital surgery and sex reassignment surgery, restriction or compression (waist training, foot binding), abrasion (teeth filing, scourging, flagellation), elongation (neck, lips, earlobes), partial or full removal of body parts (breasts, penis, ribs, nose etc.), implantation of foreign objects (silicone implants, decorative items under the skin), and prosthetics (false limbs, finger nails, lenses) and processes that mark the surface of the body such as tattooing, piercing, tanning/bleaching, scarification, branding and hair removal [ 32 ].

Young women and teenage girls following fitness boards on Pinterest were likely to have intensions to engage in extreme crash dieting or extreme exercising as a result of social comparison leading them to feelings of inadequacy and body dissatisfaction [ 33 , 34 ].

6. Body modification trends in society

From professional athletes to celebrities, contouring, tattooing and body piercings has gained popularity in today’s society [ 35 ]. Individuals who get tattooed refer to it as a piece of art and piercing as fashion accessories, for the purpose of embellishment or as a self-healing effect after having being abused [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. A survey conducted at an American University found body piercings in 42% of men and 60% of women with piercings involving tongue, lips, nose, navel, genitals, nipple and eyebrow besides the earlobe piercing. Bacterial infections, bleeding and local trauma were common complications faced. “Tattoos were present in 22% of male students and 26% of female students” [ 40 ].

Another reason why individuals engage in body modifications is to maintain self-identities and be distinctive from others [ 41 , 42 ]. Physical endurance, lust for pain, spirituality and cultural traditions, addictions, resistance, sexual motives, group commitments are reasons why individuals adopt modification procedures [ 43 ]. Social Media has had a tremendous effect on how individuals perceive and endure painful tattooing and body modifications after viewing popular Instagram and Pinterest handles. Brief exposure to body modifications on popular social networking sites has seen an increase in tattoo searches and body modification procedures in young as well as older individuals, proving the impact of Social Media on Beauty trends in society.

7. Adopting to ever changing social media trends: Is it right?

Social media has a robust influence on the beauty, health and hospitality industry with women and men engaging in weight loss and diets to avoid gaining fat identities that impacted their wellbeing in the long run [ 44 , 45 , 46 ]. Women and men have turned to waxing, shaving and removal of unwanted facial and body hair in order to meet the beauty standards of societal acceptance [ 47 , 48 ]. Women who did not engage in hair removal were negatively evaluated as being dirty or gross [ 49 , 50 ]. In 2010, a concept of living dolls emerged online with women practicing the art of appearing “doll like.” These women would engage in usage of wide rimmed contact lenses, hair extensions, corsets, photo editing and surgery including, eye widening, breast implants, liposuction and rib removal to enhance their beauty [ 31 ]. Even though women knew the risks in false eyelashes and acrylic nails, they still reported to be continuing to engage in it to feel socially accepted [ 31 ].

8. Using social media for body positivity

Social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other networking sites have the potential to influence positive beliefs and attitudes in individuals [ 51 ]. The online platform has given many individuals a feeling of a “sense of belonging.” Men and women are obsessed with images on social media portals and often search for esthetic body types which are not similar to their own body. Instagram and Facebook often have stories of individuals who have fought hard to change beauty standards through sheer dedication and hard work, be it exercising, eating healthy or building self-esteem and body acceptance through support groups and communities found online. Blocking body shamers can help reinforce confidence in men and women globally. Promoting videos on life struggles with weight motivate others to believe in never giving up and taking charge of their lives. Today social media includes individuals of different race, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation, thereby focusing more on breaking stereotypes and building communities to support each other.

9. Conclusion

With technology advancing by the minute and newer apps surfacing online, social media has an immediate effect on beauty. Due to the ever changing body images depicted online, individuals are turning to social media handles for acceptance and support. The selfie culture has brought about a positive and negative change in how individuals perceive themselves. While most research today focuses on the negative impacts of social media on beauty, more interest should be laid on body positivity and using social media as a medium for self-acceptance whether beautified or not.

• 1. Social Media [Internet]. 2020. Available from: https://www.lexico.com/definition/social_media
• 2. Grabe S, Ward ML, Hyde JS. The role of the media in body image concerns among women: A meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. Psychological Bulletin. 2008; 134 (3):460-476. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.134.3.460
• 3. Fardouly J. Social media and body image. NEDC e-Bulletin. 2020; 46 :1-4
• 4. Cecon RS, Franceschini SCC, Peluzio MCG, Hermsdorff HHM, Priore SE. Overweight and body image perception in adolescents with triage of eating disorders. The Scientific World Journal. 2017; 2017 :8257329. DOI: 10.1155/2017/8257329
• 5. Cavalcanti AMTS, de Arruda IKG, de Lima EACM. Characterization of eating behavior disorders in school-aged children and adolescents: A population-based study. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health. 2016; 29 (3):1-8. DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2015-0087
• 6. Voelkar DK, Reel JJ, Greenleaf C. Weight status and body image perceptions in adolescents: Current perspectives. Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics. 2015; 6 :149-158. DOI: 10.2147/AHMT.S68344
• 7. Lofrano-Prado MC, Prado WL, De Piano A, Damaso AR. Obesidade e transtornos alimentares: A coexistência de comportamentos alimentares extremos em adolescentes. ConScientiae Saúde. 2011; 10 (3):579-585. DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2010.09.008
• 8. Toriola AL, Dolan BM, Evans C, Adetimole O. Weight satisfaction of Nigerian women in Nigeria and Britain: Intergenerational and cross-cultural influences. European Eating Disorders Review. 1996; 4 (2):84-94. DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0968(199606)4:2<84::aid-erv148>3.0.co;2-w
• 9. Moehlecke M, Blume CA, Cureau FV, Kieling C, Schaan B. Self-perceived body image, dissatisfaction with body weight and nutritional status of Brazilian adolescents: A nationwide study. Journal of Pediatria. 2018; 96 (1)1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2018.07.006
• 10. Milkie MA. Social comparisons, reflected appraisals, and mass media: The impact of pervasive beauty images on black and white girls’ self-concepts. Social Psychology Quarterly. 1999; 62 (2):190. DOI: 10.2307/2695857
• 11. Labre MP, Walsh-Childers K. Friendly advice? Beauty messages in websites of teen magazines. Mass Communication and Society. 2003; 6 (4):379-396. DOI: 10.1207/S15327825MCS0604_3
• 12. Vandenbosch L, Eggermont S. Understanding sexual objectification: A comprehensive approach toward media exposure and girls’ internalization of beauty ideals, self-objectification, and body surveillance. Journal of Communication. 2012; 62 (5):869-887. DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2012.01667.x
• 13. Caspi A. The child is father of the man: Personality continuities from childhood to adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2000; 78 (1):158-172. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.78.1.158
• 14. Martin MC, Kennedy PF. Advertising and social comparison: Consequences for female preadolescents and adolescents. Psychology and Marketing. 1993; 10 (6):513-530. DOI: 10.1002/mar.4220100605
• 15. Meier EP, Gray J. Facebook photo activity associated with body image disturbance in adolescent girls. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking. 2014; 17 :199-206. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2013.0305
• 16. Engeln-Maddox R. Buying a beauty standard or dreaming of a new life? Expectations associated with media ideals. Psychology of Women Quarterly. 2006; 30 (3):258-266. DOI: 10.1111%2Fj.1471-6402.2006.00294.x
• 17. Mascheroni G, Vincent J, Jimenez E. Girls are addicted to likes so they post semi-naked selfies: Peer mediation, normativity and the construction of identity online. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace. 2015; 9 (1):5. DOI: 10.5817/CP2015-1-5
• 18. Kaplan AM, Haenlein M. Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons. 2010; 53 :59-68. DOI: 10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003
• 19. Boyd D. It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press; 2014
• 20. Corcoran K, Crusius J, Mussweiler T. Social comparison: Motives, standards, and mechanisms. In: Chadee D, editor. Theories in Social Psychology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell; 2011. pp. 119-139. DOI: 10.1037/a0023922
• 21. Chua THH, Chang L. Follow me and like my beautiful selfies: Singapore teenage girls’ engagement in self-presentation and peer comparison on social media. Computers in Human Behavior. 2016; 55 :190-197. DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2015.09.011
• 22. Epley N, Whitchurch E. Mirror, mirror on the wall: Enhancement in self-recognition. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2008; 34 :1159-1170. DOI: 10.1177/0146167208318601
• 23. Wen W, Kawabata H. Why am I not photogenic? Differences in face memory for the self and others. Perception. 2014; 5 :176-187. DOI: 10.1068/i0634
• 24. Likhareva E, Kulpin S. Social media influence on consumption in the beauty industry: Modern studies. UDC. 2018; 304 :1-6
• 25. Social media influence on sales [Internet]. 2017. Available from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewarnold/2017/12/22/4-ways-social-media-influencesmillennials-purchasing-decisions/#3cdd48ea539f
• 26. Jang-Soon P, Hye-Jin K. Perception about makeup influence on Man’s makeup and their success. Journal of the Korea Convergence Society. 2017; 8 (4):231-237
• 27. Farid H. Seeing is not believing. IEEE Spectrum Archive. 2009; 46 (8):44-48. DOI: 10.1109/MSPEC.2009.5186556
• 28. Hesse-Biber S, Leavy P, Quinn CE, Zoino J. The mass marketing of disordered eating and eating disorders: The social psychology of women, thinness, and culture. Women’s Studies International Forum. 2006; 29 :208-224. DOI: 10.1016/j.wsif.2006.03.007
• 29. Grogan S. Body Image: Understanding Body Dissatisfaction in Men, Women and Children. 2nd ed. East Sussex: Routledge; 2008
• 30. Bordo S. Twilight Zones: The Hidden Life of Cultural Images from Plato to O.J. Berkeley: University of California Press; 1997
• 31. Elias AS, Gill R, Scharff C. Aesthetic Labour: Rethinking Beauty Politics in Neoliberalism. London: MacMillan Publishers; 2017
• 32. Hayes K. Body modifications. Encyclopedia of sex and gender: Culture society history. Social Sciences. 2020; 1 :1-6
• 33. Lewallen J, Behm-Morawitz E. Pinterest or thinterest?: Social comparison and body image on social media. Social Media and Society. 2016; 2 :1-9. DOI: 10.1177%2F2056305116640559
• 34. Alperstein N. Social comparison of idealized female images and the curation of self on Pinterest. The Journal of Social Media in Society. 2015; 4 :5-27. Available from: https://www.thejsms.org/index.php/TSMRI/article/view/82
• 35. Heidelbaug JJ. Clinical Men’s Health: Evidence in Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences. 2008; 17 :323-338
• 36. Wohlrab S, Stahl J, Kappeler PM. Modifying the body: Motivations for getting tattooed and pierced. Body Image. 2007; 4 (1):87-95. DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2006.12.001
• 37. Atkinson M. Pretty in ink: Conformity, resistance, and negotiation in women’s tattooing. Sex Roles. 2002; 47 :219-235. DOI: 10.1023/A:1021330609522
• 38. Stirn A. Body piercing: Medical consequences and psychological motivations. The Lancet. 2003; 361 :1205-1215. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12955-8
• 39. Stirn A. Motivations of tattooed and pierced for their body modifications. Zeitschrift fu r Klinische Psychologie, Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie. 2004; 51 :43-58
• 40. Mayers LB, Judelson DA, Moriarty BW, Rundell KW. Prevalence of body art (body piercing and tattooing) in university undergraduates and incidence of medical complications. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2002; 7 (1):29-34. DOI: 10.4065/77.1.29
• 41. Millner VS, Eichold BH. Body piercing and tattooing perspectives. Clinical Nursing Research. 2001; 10 :424-441. DOI: 10.1177/C10N4R7
• 42. Stirn A. Designing the own body – Narcissistic aspects of tattoos and piercings. Psychotherapie im Dialog. 2004; 3 :256-260
• 43. Stirn A, Peregrinova L, Oddo S, Philipp S, Hinz A. Motivations for body piercings and tattoos- the role of sexual abuse and the frequency of body modifications. Psychiatry Research. 2011; 190 :359-363. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2011.06.001
• 44. Dalley SE, Buunk AP. ‘Thinspiration’ vs. ‘fear of fat’: Using prototypes to predict frequent weight-loss dieting in females. Appetite. 2009; 52 (1):217-221
• 45. Vartanian LR. Disgust and perceived control in attitudes toward obese people. International Journal of Obesity. 2010; 34 (8):1302-1307. DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2010.45
• 46. Wray S, Deery R. The medicalization of body size and women’s healthcare. Health Care for Women International. 2008; 29 (3):227-243. DOI: 10.1080/07399330701738291
• 47. Tiggemann M, Lewis C. Attitudes toward women’s body hair: Relationship with disgust sensitivity. Psychology of Women Quarterly. 2004; 28 (4):381-387. DOI: 10.1111%2Fj.1471-6402.2004.00155.x
• 48. Toerien M, Wilkinson S, Choi PYL. Body hair removal: The ‘mundane’ production of normative femininity. Sex Roles. 2005; 52 (5-6):399-406
• 49. Toerien M, Wilkinson S. Gender and body hair: Constructing the feminine woman. Women’s Studies International Forum. 2003; 26 (4):333-344
• 50. Toerien M, Wilkinson S. Exploring the depilation norm: A qualitative questionnaire study of women’s body hair removal. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 2004; 1 (1):69-92. DOI: 10.1191/1478088704qp006oa
• 51. Perloff RM. Social media effects on young women’s body image concerns: Theoretical perspectives and an agenda for research. Sex Roles. 2014; 71 :363-377. DOI: 10.1007/s11199-014-0384-6

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Continue reading from the same book

Edited by Martha Peaslee Levine

Published: 12 May 2021

By Wenting Mu and Fan Wu

932 downloads

By Martha Peaslee Levine

494 downloads

By Levan Torosian

722 downloads

• Advanced search
• Peer review

Celebrating 65 years of The Computer Journal  - free-to-read perspectives -  bcs.org/tcj65

• Record : found
• Abstract : found
• Conference Proceedings : found

Beauty Standards set by Social Media and their Influence on Women’s Body Image

• Download PDF
• Review article
• Invite someone to review

Abstract

Author and article information , contributors, affiliations.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

1477-9358 BCS Learning & Development

H. Bhasin 2018 November 06 What Are The Uses Of Social Media? Retrieved June 02 2019 from social media marketing: https://www.marketing91.com/what-are-the-uses-of-social-media/

A. Brandt 2017 June 01 4 Ways That Childhood Trauma Impacts Adults Retrieved June 03 2019 from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindful-anger/201706/4-ways-childhood-trauma-impacts-adults

Y. K. Cara Booker 2018 Gender differences in the associations between age trends of social media interaction and well-being among 10-15 year olds in the UK 18 1 1

P. Dakin 2014 February 24 Social media affecting teens Retrieved June 06 2019 from Concepts of friendship, intimacy: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/social-media-affecting-teens-concepts-of-friendship-intimacy-1.2543158

J. Ekern 2018 July 11 Eating Disorders: Causes, Symptoms, Signs & Medical Complications Retrieved June 02 2019 from Eating Disorders Hope: https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/eating-disorder

Kim Garst 2019 Top 10 Social Media Statistics for 2019 Retrieved June 02 2019 https://kimgarst.com https://kimgarst.com/social-media-statistics/

J. Giedd 2014 Inside the Teen Brain Retrieved June 2019 from Frontline: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/interviews/giedd.html

J. Hamilton 2012 October 16 Teenage Brains Are Malleable And Vulnerable, Researchers Say Retrieved June 03 2019 from Health News From NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2012/10/16/162997951/teenage-brains-are-malleable-and-vulnerable-researchers-say

S. Harrington 2013 Hey you, it's all about me 113 16

S. Kemp 2018 Digital In 2018: World’s Internet Users Pass The 4 Billion Mark New York We Are Social

A. Lenhart 2015 April 09 Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015 Retrieved June 02 2019 from Pew Internet: https://www.pewinternet.org/

R-D, S. C.-X. Liu 2013 Children’s internet information seeking, life satisfaction, and loneliness: the mediating and moderating role of self-esteem 68 21 8

R. W. Mai-Ly Steers 2014 Seeing Everyone Else's Highlight Reels: How Facebook Usage is Linked to Depressive Symptoms 33 8 701 731

L. Michelle 2017 August 27 8 Early Childhood Experiences That Continue to Affect You Even in Adulthood Retrieved June 03 2019 from Learning Mind: https://www.learning-mind.com/early-childhood-experiences/

GS, C.-P. K. O'Keeffe 2011 Clinical report – the impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families 127 4 800 4

E. Packard 2007 April Harvard researchers may have found biological clues to quirky adolescent behavior Retrieved June 03 2019 from That teenage feeling: https://www.apa.org/monitor/apr07/teenage

M. Radwan 2018 Do childhood experiences affect adulthood Retrieved June 2019 03 from how childhood experiences affect adulthood: https://www.2knowmyself.com/how_childhood_experiences_affect_adulthood

N. Richa 2019 March 11 Social Media and Eating Disorders in Lebanon Retrieved June 03 2019 from Life & Entertainment Health: https://en.annahar.com/article/946480-social-media-and-eating-disorders-in-lebanon

P. Roesler 2019 Study Shows Why Teens And Young Adults Love Instagram Jacksonville Web Marketing Pros

M. Sameer 2014 November 20 Impact Of Social Networking Sites On Youth Retrieved June 06 2019 http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/06/social-networking-impact-youth/

R, M. J.-E.-S. Santos 2014 The independent associations of sedentary behaviour and physcial activity on cardiorespiratory fitness 48 1508 12

A. Zhukova 2018 October 31 7 Negative Effects of Social Media on People and Users Retrieved June 06 2019 from Social Media: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/negative-effects-social-media/

Comment on this article

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

On Being and Becoming Beautiful: The Social Construction of Feminine Beauty

Related Papers

Compos Mentis: Undergraduate Journal of Cognition and Neuroethics (ISSN: 2330-0264)

In discussions of "beauty" as an aesthetic and evaluative term assessing and describing people's looks, very often people use the term as if there is a shared objective standard of beauty. This mistaken conception of beauty as objective can be understood in three layers: firstly, the term "beauty" is used as if it means that a certain set of objective standards has been met; secondly, it is presupposed that these standards have existed throughout human history and will continue to exist as such even despite what appear to be significant changes to these standards; thirdly, it is often presupposed that we are all equally capable of achieving these standards and that we should all aim to meet these standards. However, this conception of beauty as objective is mistaken. I seek to make clear that: the aesthetics of people's looks is very often shaped by racism, patriarchy, heteronormativity and other systematic oppressions in our society. The term "beauty" is much more of an oppressive tool than an innocent realist appraisal or aesthetic judgment.

Holman Andrei

We present a synthesis of the contemporary approaches on the topic of corporal beauty, by dividing them into eight major research lines, each illustrated by a set of most representative theories and results: evolutionary, sociocultural and body image approaches, researches on the cross-cultural standards of beauty, on its factors, effects, personal benefits and media representations

Angie Mohamed

It&#39;s easy for us to name beautiful people in our life. But what makes them beautiful? Why does society agree that one look is &#39;more beautiful&#39; than another? How does social media affect this idea? Our aim was to understand beauty standards in four contextes: historical and racial context, social media in today&#39;s world, the patriarchy&#39;s effect on the image of beauty, and emphasized eurocentric standards. Our research questions are: 1. To what extent the body positivity movement on social media has a positive effect on adolescent girls? 2. How internalized eurocentric beauty standards are in adolescent girls? 3. To what extent does the male gaze influence the behavior of adolescent girls? Data was collected from our original survey exploring the implications of beauty standards on females and individuals who identify as non-binary between the ages of 14-22. Using a two-way ANOVA statistical significance was found between ethnicity and the modes of communication of ...

Public Relations FISAT

This article tries to explain the emerging beauty consciousness of the present world. The commercial world is really influencing the teenaged groups in terms

Springer eBooks

Claudia Liebelt

Beauty and the Norm contains chapters based on empirical research across a wide range of geographical locations and cultural contexts, as well as shorter conversations between scholars that also include more personal reflections. It represents a first attempt to expose the generative operations of human standardization and normative looks in everyday life to more systematic analysis. In doing so, the volume brings together hitherto rather separate debates in critical beauty studies, cultural anthropology, sociology, the history of science and disability studies on the gendered, classed and racialized body, normative regimes of representation and the global beauty economy. In this introductory chapter, we provide a framework that ties the various contributions together, beginning with a brief history of the notion of the norm and of the closely related debates on standardization and normalization, followed by a discussion of the global economy of gendered and racialized bodies.

Brandon Giella

People often say, "Do not judge," but this inhibits society rather than progresses it. Judgment develops in people a sense of taste, without which society will not last. (This paper was submitted for an essay contest.)

David Frederick , Megan Carpenter

Why Beauty Matters -A Critical Review

Tamunobelema William

One thing Scruton got very correct is his title, “Why Beauty Matters”. Beauty is value perceived and value is the meaning derived. When one fails to find meaning in a way of life, art, music, poetry, process and so on, there is no beauty and that leads to a repulsion also known as ugliness. Scruton’s work was unable to pin his case on why beauty mattered because, he approached a subjective theme with an objective theoretical framework as well as not clearly defining any of his terms. Beauty, taste, and art are subjective terms and will continue to be respective to the beholder.

RELATED PAPERS

Chucho Jimenéz

Claudio Lupi

Actas del VI Congreso …

rahadian adi prasetyo

Epidemiology

Deepak Sharan

MANTHAN: Journal of Commerce and Management

Anagha Shukre

Revista Confluências Culturais

Euler Westphal

Neeshma K.K

International Journal of Computer Applications

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

Richard Tay

Anais do XVI Women in Information Technology (WIT 2022)

Carlos Beleti

Stamenka Uvalić-Trumbić

hergian dinarina

Phytopathologia Mediterranea

Sophie TROUVELOT

Comptes Rendus Mathematique

khawla msheik

Suma de Negocios

Rafael Leonardo Ochoa Urrego

Osteoporosis International

Journal of Medical Case Reports

Edvin Prifti

Acta crystallographica

David C Woollard

mohammed meetani

代办国外毕业证、代办澳洲毕业证 办理假毕业证在国内能用吗

Indian Journal of Mental Health(IJMH)

Drbhavesh Lakdawala

International Endodontic Journal

Claudio Leles

Andrew Bagshaw

Journal of Theoretical Biology

Daniel Wiegmann

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Premium Content

• WOMEN OF IMPACT

The idea of beauty is always shifting. Today, it’s more inclusive than ever.

Whom we deem ‘beautiful’ is a reflection of our values. Now, a more expansive world has arrived where ‘we are all beautiful.’

The Sudanese model Alek Wek appeared on the November 1997 cover of the U.S. edition of Elle magazine, in a photograph by French creative director Gilles Bensimon . It was, as is so often the case in the beauty business, a global production.

Wek, with her velvety ebony skin and mere whisper of an Afro, was posed in front of a stark, white screen. Her simple, white Giorgio Armani blazer almost disappeared into the background. Wek, however, was intensely present.

She was standing at an angle but looking directly into the camera with a pleasant smile spread across her face, which wasn’t so much defined by planes and angles as by sweet, broad, distinctly African curves. Wek represented everything that a traditional cover girl was not.

More than 20 years after she was featured on that Elle cover, the definition of beauty has continued to expand, making room for women of color, obese women, women with vitiligo , bald women, women with gray hair and wrinkles. We are moving toward a culture of big-tent beauty. One in which everyone is welcome. Everyone is beautiful. Everyone’s idealized version can be seen in the pages of magazines or on the runways of Paris.

We have become more accepting because people have demanded it, protested for it, and used the bully pulpit of social media to shame beauty’s gatekeepers into opening the doors wider.

Eye of the beholder

Technology has put the power to define beauty in the hands of the people. Mobile phones allow people greater control of their image, and include apps that come with filters used for fun, appearance, and entertainment.

Wek was a new vision of beauty—that virtue forever attached to women . It has long been a measure of their social value; it is also a tool to be used and manipulated. A woman should not let her beauty go to waste; that was something people would say back when a woman’s future depended on her marrying well. Her husband’s ambition and potential should be as dazzling as her fine features.

Beauty is, of course, cultural. What one community admires may leave another group of people cold or even repulsed. What one individual finds irresistible elicits a shrug from another. Beauty is personal. But it’s also universal. There are international beauties—those people who have come to represent the standard.

For generations, beauty required a slender build but with a generous bosom and a narrow waist. The jawline was to be defined, the cheekbones high and sharp. The nose angular. The lips full but not distractingly so. The eyes, ideally blue or green, large and bright. Hair was to be long, thick, and flowing—and preferably golden. Symmetry was desired. Youthfulness, that went without saying.

This was the standard from the earliest days of women’s magazines, when beauty was codified and commercialized. The so-called great beauties and swans—women such as actress Catherine Deneuve , socialite C.Z. Guest , or Princess Grace —came closest to this ideal. The further one diverged from this version of perfection, the more exotic a woman became. Diverge too much and a woman was simply considered less attractive—or desirable or valuable. And for some women—black and brown or fat or old ones—beauty seemed impossible in the broader culture.

In the early part of the 1990s, the definition of beauty as it applied to women began to loosen thanks to the arrival of Kate Moss , with her slight figure and vaguely ragamuffin aesthetic. Standing five feet seven inches, she was short for a runway walker. The British teenager was not particularly graceful, and she lacked the noble bearing that gave many other models their regal air. Moss’s star turn in advertisements for Calvin Klein signified a major departure from the long-legged gazelles of years past.

Moss was disruptive to the beauty system, but she was still well within the industry’s comfort zone of defining beauty as a white, European conceit. So too were the youthquake models of the 1960s such as Twiggy , who had the gangly, curveless physique of a 12-year-old boy. The 1970s brought Lauren Hutton, who stirred scandal simply because she had a gap between her teeth.

Even the early black models who broke barriers were relatively safe: women such as Beverly Johnson, the first African-American model to appear on the cover of American Vogue , the Somali-born Iman, Naomi Campbell, and Tyra Banks. They had keen features and flowing hair—or wigs or weaves to give the illusion that they did. Iman had a luxuriously long neck that made legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland gasp. Campbell was—and is—all va-va-voom legs and hips, and Banks rose to fame as the girl next door in a polka dot bikini on the cover of Sports Illustrated .

Wek was a revelation. Her beauty was something entirely different.

Her tightly coiled hair was sheared close to her scalp. Her seemingly poreless skin was the color of dark chocolate. Her nose was broad; her lips were full. Her legs were impossibly long and incredibly thin. Indeed, her entire body had the stretched-out sinewiness of an African stick figure brought to life.

To eyes that had been trained to understand beauty through the lens of Western culture, Wek was jarring to everyone, and black folks were no exception. Many of them did not consider her beautiful. Even women who might have looked in the mirror and seen the same nearly coal black skin and tightly coiled hair reflected back had trouble reckoning with this Elle cover girl.

See and be seen

Fashion and beauty magazines present a paragon of aspiration, often setting beauty standards for women across cultures. The magazines also serve as giant advertisements for the industries dependent on selling these ideals to willing customers.

Wek was abruptly and urgently transformative. It was as though some great cultural mountain had been scaled by climbing straight up a steep slope, as if there were neither time nor patience for switchbacks. To see Wek celebrated was exhilarating and vertiginous. Everything about her was the opposite of what had come before.

We are in a better place than we were a generation ago, but we have not arrived at utopia. Many of the clubbiest realms of beauty still don’t include larger women, disabled ones, or senior citizens.

But to be honest, I’m not sure exactly what utopia would look like. Is it a world in which everyone gets a tiara and the sash of a beauty queen just for showing up? Or is it one in which the definition of beauty gets stretched so far that it becomes meaningless? Perhaps the way to utopia is by rewriting the definition of the word itself to better reflect how we’ve come to understand it—as something more than an aesthetic pleasure.

We know that beauty has financial value. We want to be around beautiful people because they delight the eye but also because we think they are intrinsically better humans. We’ve been told that attractive people are paid higher salaries. In truth, it’s a bit more complicated than that. It’s really a combination of beauty, intelligence, charm, and collegiality that serves as a recipe for better pay. Still, beauty is an integral part of the equation.

But on a powerfully emotional level, being perceived as attractive means being welcomed into the cultural conversation. You are part of the audience for advertising and marketing. You are desired. You are seen and accepted. When questions arise about someone’s looks, that’s just another way of asking: How acceptable is she? How relevant is she? Does she matter?

Today suggesting that a person is not gorgeous is to risk social shunning or at least a social media lashing. What kind of monster declares another human being unattractive? To do so is to virtually dismiss that person as worthless. It’s better to lie. Of course you’re beautiful, sweetheart; of course you are.

We have come to equate beauty with humanity. If we don’t see the beauty in another person, we are blind to that person’s humanity. It’s scary how important beauty has become. It goes to the very soulfulness of a person.

Beauty has become so important today that denying that people possess it is akin to denying them oxygen.

There used to be gradations when it came to describing the feminine ideal: homely, jolie laide, attractive, pretty, and ultimately, beautiful. The homely woman managed as best she could. She adjusted to the fact that her looks were not her most distinguishing feature. She was the woman with the terrific personality. Striking women had some characteristic that made them stand out: bountiful lips, an aristocratic nose, a glorious poitrine. A lot of women could be described as attractive. They were at the center of the bell curve. Pretty was another level. Hollywood is filled with pretty people.

Ah, but beautiful! Beautiful was a description that was reserved for special cases, for genetic lottery winners. Beauty could even be a burden because it startled people. It intimidated them. Beauty was exceptional.

But improved plastic surgery, more personalized and effective nutrition, the flowering of the fitness industry, and the rise of selfie filters on smartphones, along with Botox, fillers, and the invention of Spanx, have all combined to help us look better—and get a little bit closer to looking exceptional. Therapists, bloggers, influencers, stylists, and well-meaning friends have raised their voices in a chorus of body-positivity mantras: You go, girl! You slay! Yasss, queen! They are not charged with speaking harsh truths and helping us see ourselves vividly and become better versions of ourselves. Their role is constant uplift, to tell us that we are perfect just as we are.

And the globalization of, well, everything means that somewhere out there is an audience that will appreciate you in all your magnificent … whatever.

We are all beautiful.

In New York, London, Milan, and Paris—the traditional fashion capitals of the world—the beauty codes have changed more dramatically in the past 10 years than in the preceding hundred. Historically, shifts had been by degrees. Changes in aesthetics weren’t linear, and despite fashion’s reputation for rebelliousness, change was slow. Revolutions were measured in a few inches.

Through the years, an angular shape has been celebrated and then a more curvaceous one. The average clothing size of a runway model, representative of the designers’ ideal, shrank from a six to a zero; the pale blondes of Eastern Europe ruled the runway until the sun-kissed blondes from Brazil deposed them. The couture body—lean, hipless, and practically flat-chested—can be seen in the classic portraits by Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, and Gordon Parks, as well as on the runways of designers such as John Galliano and the late Alexander McQueen. But then Miuccia Prada, who had led the way in promoting a nearly homogeneous catwalk of pale, white, thin models, suddenly embraced an hourglass shape. And then plus-size model Ashley Graham appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 2016 , and in 2019 Halima Aden became the first model to wear a hijab in that same magazine , and suddenly everyone is talking about modesty and beauty and fuller figures … and the progress is dizzying.

In the past decade, beauty has moved resolutely forward into territory that was once deemed niche. Nonbinary and transgender are part of the mainstream beauty narrative. As the rights of LGBTQ individuals have been codified in the courts, so have the aesthetics particular to them been absorbed into the beauty dialogue. Transgender models walk the runways and appear in advertising campaigns. They are hailed on the red carpet for their glamour and good taste but also for their physical characteristics. Their bodies are celebrated as aspirational.

The catalyst for our changed understanding of beauty has been a perfect storm of technology, economics, and a generation of consumers with sharpened aesthetic literacy.

The technology is social media in general and Instagram specifically. The fundamental economic factor is the unrelenting competition for market share and the need for individual companies to grow their audience of potential customers for products ranging from designer dresses to lipstick. And the demographics lead, as they always do these days, to millennials, with an assist from baby boomers who plan to go into that good night with six-pack abs.

Hyejin Yun undergoes eyelid surgery in the Hyundai Aesthetics clinic in Seoul. The procedure makes eyes look bigger. South Korea has one of the highest rates of plastic surgery in the world; one in three women ages 19 to 29 has had cosmetic surgery.

Social media has changed the way younger consumers relate to fashion. It’s hard to believe, but back in the 1990s, the notion of photographers posting runway imagery online was scandalous. Designers lived in professional terror of having their entire collection posted online, fearing that it would lead to business-killing knockoffs. And while knockoffs and copies continue to frustrate designers, the real revolution brought on by the internet was that consumers were able to see, in nearly real time, the full breadth of the fashion industry’s aesthetic.

In the past, runway productions were insider affairs. They weren’t meant for public consumption, and the people sitting in the audience all spoke the same fashion patois. They understood that runway ideas weren’t meant to be taken literally; they were oblivious to issues of cultural appropriation, racial stereotypes, and all varieties of isms—or they were willing to overlook them. Fashion’s power brokers were carrying on the traditions of the power brokers who’d come before, happily using black and brown people as props in photo shoots that starred white models who had parachuted in for the job.

But an increasingly diverse class of moneyed consumers, a more expansive retail network, and a new media landscape have forced the fashion industry into greater accountability on how it depicts beauty. Clothing and cosmetic brands now take care to reflect the growing numbers of luxury consumers in countries such as India and China by using more Asian models.

Marked by beauty

We’ve been chasing beauty for millennia, primping and painting our way to a more desirable ideal. Cultures in every era have held different standards of feminine beauty and myriad means of achieving it, from the toxic lead cosmetics of the past to today’s Botox injections. But the standards often serve the same aims: to attract and retain a mate; to signal social status, wealth, health, or fertility; and of course, to simply feel beautiful.

Social media has amplified the voices of minority communities—from Harlem to South Central Los Angeles—so that their calls for representation can’t be so easily ignored. And the growth of digital publications and blogs means that every market has become more fluent in the language of aesthetics. A whole new category of power brokers has emerged: influencers. They are young and independent and obsessed with the glamour of fashion. And fashion influencers don’t accept excuses, condescension, or patronizing pleas to be patient, because really, change is forthcoming.

The modern beauty standard in the West has always been rooted in thinness. And when the obesity rates were lower, thin models were only slight exaggerations in the eyes of the general population. But as obesity rates rose, the distance between the reality and the fantasy grew. People were impatient with a fantasy that no longer seemed even remotely accessible.

Fat bloggers warned critics to stop telling them to lose weight and stop suggesting ways for them to camouflage their body. They were perfectly content with their body, thank you very much. They just wanted better clothes. They wanted fashion that came in their size—not with the skirts made longer or the sheath dresses reworked with sleeves.

They weren’t really demanding to be labeled beautiful. They were demanding access to style because they believed they deserved it. In this way, beauty and self-worth were inextricably bound.

Giving full-figured women greater access made economic sense. By adhering to traditional beauty standards, the fashion industry had been leaving money on the table. Designers such as Christian Siriano made a public point of catering to larger customers and, in doing so, were hailed as smart and as capitalist heroes. Now it’s fairly common for even the most rarefied fashion brands to include large models in their runway shows.

But this new way of thinking isn’t just about selling more dresses. If it were only about economics, designers would have long ago expanded their size offerings, because there have always been larger women able and willing to embrace fashion. Big simply wasn’t considered beautiful. Indeed, even Oprah Winfrey went on a diet before she posed for the cover of Vogue in 1998. As recently as 2012, the designer Karl Lagerfeld, who died last year and who himself was 92 pounds overweight at one point, was called to task for saying that pop star Adele was “a little too fat.”

Attitudes are shifting. But the fashion world remains uneasy with large women—no matter how famous or rich. No matter how pretty their face. Elevating them to iconic status is a complicated, psychological hurdle for the arbiters of beauty. They need sleek élan in their symbols of beauty. They need long lines and sharp edges. They need women who can fit into sample sizes.

But instead of operating in a vacuum, they now are operating in a new media environment. Average folks have taken note of whether designers have a diverse cast of models, and if they do not, critics can voice their ire on social media and an angry army of like-minded souls can rise up and demand change. Digital media has made it easier for stories about emaciated and anorexic models to reach the general public, and the public now has a way to shame and pressure the fashion industry to stop hiring these deathly thin women. The Fashion Spot website became a diversity watchdog, regularly issuing reports on the demographic breakdown on the runways. How many models of color? How many plus-size women? How many of them were transgender? How many older models?

One might think that as female designers themselves aged, they would begin to highlight older women in their work. But women in fashion are part of the same cult of youth that they created. They Botox and diet. They swear by raw food and SoulCycle. How often do you see a chubby designer? A gray-haired one? Designers still use the phrase “old lady” to describe clothes that are unattractive. A “matronly” dress is one that is unflattering or out-of-date. The language makes the bias plain. But today women don’t take it as a matter of course. They revolt. Making “old” synonymous with unattractive is simply not going to stand.

The spread of luxury brands into China, Latin America, and Africa has forced designers to consider how best to market to those consumers while avoiding cultural minefields. They have had to navigate skin lightening in parts of Africa, the Lolita-cute culture of Japan, the obsession with double-eyelid surgery in East Asian countries, and prejudices of colorism, well, virtually everywhere. Idealized beauty needs a new definition. Who will sort it out? And what will the definition be?

In the West, the legacy media are now sharing influence with digital media, social media, and a new generation of writers and editors who came of age in a far more multicultural world—a world that has a more fluid view of gender. The millennial generation, those born between 1981 and 1996, is not inclined to assimilate into the dominant culture but to stand proudly apart from it. The new definition of beauty is being written by a selfie generation: people who are the cover stars of their own narrative.

You May Also Like

Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain

How street fashion sparked a WWII race riot in Los Angeles

The weight loss drugs you’re getting may be fake

The new beauty isn’t defined by hairstyles or body shape, by age or skin color. Beauty is becoming less a matter of aesthetics and more about self-awareness, personal swagger, and individuality. It’s about chiseled arms and false eyelashes and a lineless forehead. But it’s also defined by rounded bellies, shimmering silver hair, and mundane imperfections. Beauty is a millennial strutting around town in leggings, a crop top, and her belly protruding over her waistband. It is a young man swishing down a runway in over-the-knee boots and thigh-grazing shorts.

Beauty is political correctness, cultural enlightenment, and social justice.

In New York, there’s a fashion collective called Vaquera that mounts runway shows in dilapidated settings with harsh lighting and no glamour. The cast could have piled off the F train after a sleepless night. Their hair is mussed. Their skin looks like it has a thin sheen of overnight grime. They stomp down the runway. The walk could be interpreted as angry, bumbling, or just a little bit hungover.

Masculine-looking models wear princess dresses that hang from the shoulders with all the allure of a shower curtain. Feminine-looking models aggressively speed-walk with a hunched posture and a grim expression. Instead of elongating legs and creating an hourglass silhouette, the clothes make legs look stumpy and the torso thick. Vaquera is among the many companies that call on street casting, which is basically pulling oddball characters from the street and putting them on the runway—essentially declaring them beautiful.

In Paris, the designer John Galliano, like countless other designers, has been blurring gender. He has done so in a way that’s exaggerated and aggressive, which is to say that instead of aiming to craft a dress or a skirt that caters to the lines of a masculine physique, he has simply draped that physique with a dress. The result is not a garment that ostensibly aims to make individuals look their best. It’s a statement about our stubborn assumptions about gender, clothing, and physical beauty.

Not so long ago, the clothing line Universal Standard published an advertising campaign featuring a woman who wears a U.S. size 24. She posed in her skivvies and a pair of white socks. The lighting was flat, her hair slightly frizzed, and her thighs dimpled with cellulite. There was nothing magical or inaccessible about the image. It was exaggerated realism—the opposite of the Victoria’s Secret angel.

Every accepted idea about beauty is being subverted. This is the new normal, and it is shocking. Some might argue that it’s even rather ugly.

As much as people say that they want inclusiveness and regular-looking people—so-called real people—many consumers remain dismayed that this, this is what passes for beauty. They look at a 200-pound woman and, after giving a cursory nod to her confidence, fret about her health—even though they’ve never seen her medical records. That’s a more polite conversation than one that argues against declaring her beautiful. But the mere fact that this Universal Standard model is in the spotlight in her underwear—just as the Victoria’s Secret angels have been and the Maidenform woman was a generation before that—is an act of political protest. It’s not about wanting to be a pinup but about wanting the right for one’s body to exist without negative judgment. As a society, we haven’t acknowledged her right to simply be. But at least the beauty world is giving her a platform on which to make her case.

This isn’t just a demand being made by full-figured women. Older women are insisting on their place in the culture. Black women are demanding that they be allowed to stand in the spotlight with their natural hair.

There’s no neutral ground. The body, the face, the hair have all become political. Beauty is about respect and value and the right to exist without having to alter who you fundamentally are. For a black woman, having her natural hair perceived as beautiful means that her kinky curls are not an indication of her being unprofessional. For a plus-size woman, having her belly rolls included in the conversation about beauty means that she will not be castigated by strangers for consuming dessert in public; she will not have to prove to her employer that she isn’t lazy or without willpower or otherwise lacking in self-control.

When an older woman’s wrinkles are seen as beautiful, it means that she is actually being seen. She isn’t being overlooked as a full human being: sexual, funny, smart, and, more than likely, deeply engaged in the world around her.

To see the beauty in a woman’s rippling muscles is to embrace her strength but also to shun the notion that female beauty is equated with fragility and weakness. Pure physical power is stunning.

“Own who you are,” read a T-shirt on the spring 2020 runway of Balmain in Paris. The brand’s creative director, Olivier Rousteing, is known for his focus on inclusiveness in beauty. He, along with Kim Kardashian, has helped popularize the notion of “slim thick,” the 21st-century description of an hourglass figure with adjustments made for athleticism. “Slim thick” describes a woman with a prominent derriere, breasts, and thighs, but with a slim, toned midsection. It’s a body type that has sold countless waist trainers and has been applied to women such as singer and fashion entrepreneur Rihanna who do not have the lean physique of a marathoner.

Slim thick may be just another body type over which women obsess. But it also gives women license to coin a term to describe their own body, turn it into a hashtag, and start counting the likes. Own who you are.

When I look at photographs of groups of women on vacation, or a mother with her child, I see friendship and loyalty, joy and love. I see people who seem exuberant and confident. Perhaps if I had the opportunity to speak with them, I’d find them intelligent and witty or incredibly charismatic. If I got to know them and like them, I’m sure I’d also describe them as beautiful.

If I were to look at a portrait of my mother, I would see one of the most beautiful people in the world—not because of her cheekbones or her neat figure, but because I know her heart.

As a culture, we give lip service to the notion that what matters is inner beauty when in fact it’s the outer version that carries the real social currency. The new outlook on beauty dares us to declare someone we haven’t met beautiful. It forces us to presume the best about people. It asks us to connect with people in a way that is almost childlike in its openness and ease.

Modern beauty doesn’t ask us to come to the table without judgment. It simply asks us to come presuming that everyone in attendance has a right to be there.

Related Topics

• SOCIAL MEDIA

Ozempic and Mounjaro have another benefit: treating inflammation

The unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and Mounjaro

Bras are older than you think—much older

Why we’re examining modern beauty—and how it matters for women

New obesity drugs are coming. Here's how they could change everything.

• Environment

History & Culture

• History & Culture
• History Magazine
• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Coronavirus Coverage
• Paid Content
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

• Anxiety Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Adjustment Disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Antisocial Personality Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Childhood ADHD
• Dissociative Identity Disorder
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Panic Attack
• Postpartum Depression
• Schizoaffective Disorder
• Seasonal Affective Disorder
• Sex Addiction
• Social Anxiety
• Specific Phobias
• Teenage Depression
• Black Mental Health
• Emotional Health
• Sex & Relationships
• Understanding Therapy
• Workplace Mental Health
• My Life with OCD
• Caregivers Chronicles
• Empathy at Work
• Sex, Love & All of the Above
• Parent Central
• Mindful Moment
• Mental Health News
• Live Town Hall: Mental Health in Focus
• Inside Mental Health
• Inside Schizophrenia
• Inside Bipolar
• ADHD Symptoms Quiz
• Anxiety Symptoms Quiz
• Autism Quiz: Family & Friends
• Autism Symptoms Quiz
• Bipolar Disorder Quiz
• Borderline Personality Test
• Childhood ADHD Quiz
• Depression Symptoms Quiz
• Eating Disorder Quiz
• Narcissim Symptoms Test
• OCD Symptoms Quiz
• Psychopathy Test
• PTSD Symptoms Quiz
• Schizophrenia Quiz
• Attachment Style Quiz
• Career Test
• Do I Need Therapy Quiz?
• Domestic Violence Screening Quiz
• Emotional Type Quiz
• Loneliness Quiz
• Parenting Style Quiz
• Personality Test
• Relationship Quiz
• Stress Test
• What's Your Sleep Like?
• Find Support
• Suicide Prevention
• Drugs & Medications
• Find a Therapist

How Does Social Media Affect Body Image?

Social media can negatively impact how young people and adults view their bodies. But there’s also encouraging content that aims to promote healthy lifestyles.

Social media can have a significant impact on body image, both positive and negative.

On one hand, social media can provide a platform for body positivity, community support, and health and fitness inspiration. But it can also contribute to unrealistic beauty standards and unhealthy comparisons.

Understanding how certain content can affect your relationship with your body may help you decide which profiles and platforms best support your well-being.

Negative effects of social media on body image

Unrealistic beauty standards.

Social media platforms often feature images of people with seemingly perfect faces and bodies, often using filters and photo editing tools to enhance their appearance. This can create unrealistic beauty standards, leading to body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem in both women and men.

In fact, social media filters have led to a condition known as “snapchat dysphoria,” in which people become desperate to look like the filtered version of themselves. The authors of a 2018 research paper state that several plastic surgeons have shared that they’ve encountered people requesting to look like a “filtered” Snapchat picture.

Comparison and competition

Social media can create a toxic culture of comparison and competition, where individuals compare their bodies to others and strive to meet the same beauty standards.

Many people tend to post only their best photos, which may not be representative of their everyday appearance. For both men and women, this can contribute to negative body image and even lead to mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.

Cyberbullying

Social media can be a breeding ground for cyberbullying where people are attacked for their body size, shape, or appearance. This can have a damaging effect on body image and self-esteem.

A 2018 Pew Research Center survey found that 59% of U.S. teens have personally experienced cyberbullying. This includes offensive name calling and the spreading of false rumors, among other types of bullying.

Worsening of body-image disorders

Social media can make just about anyone feel like they don’t measure up, but it’s even more detrimental for people with eating or body-image disorders, such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) . According to the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) , this is a serious condition affecting about one in 50 people in the United States.

People living with BDD are typically preoccupied with at least one nonexistent or slight defect in their physical appearance, and experience repetitive and compulsive behaviors around their appearance, such as mirror checking and reassurance seeking. These symptoms can be excessively worsened by social media.

Research shows that sexual minority men experience elevated rates of psychiatric disorders for which body dissatisfaction is a central component, including eating disorder and BDD.

A survey of 2,733 sexual minority men found a pattern of associations between:

• social media use and body dissatisfaction
• eating disorder symptoms
• thoughts about using anabolic steroids

Positive effects of social media on body image

Body positivity.

When social media is used in a healthy way, it can be a platform for promoting body positivity, where people share images of their bodies as they are, promoting self-love and acceptance.

Body-positive content often portrays non-enhanced, non-sexualized images of people with diverse bodies. These images feature various body shapes and sizes, races, physical abilities, and gender identities.

In a 2021 study , researchers looked at whether body-positive social media can lead to improvements in body image.

The experiment involved 233 female-identifying participants who were randomly assigned to one of the following groups:

• The body-positive group : This group viewed a number of Instagram images reflecting the body-positive movement.
• The body-positive group with captions . This group viewed the same Instagram images, but with accompanying captions and hashtags.
• The control group . This group viewed a series of Instagram images containing only cityscapes, without people and without captions.

Based on the findings, participants who observed body-positive social media—either with or without captions—experienced improvements in body satisfaction. These effects were slightly stronger for the images with captions, suggesting that words and phrases reinforcing these ideals may intensify the positive impact.

Health and fitness inspiration

Social media can provide inspiration for leading a healthy and active lifestyle. There are numerous accounts promoting healthy living, exercise, and nutritious food choices to encourage people to take care of their bodies.

Community and support

Social media can host supportive communities for people working through body image disorders. Support groups and online communities can provide empathy, understanding, and encouragement to help people in their journey toward body positivity.

4 ways to cope with body dissatisfaction

If you’re experiencing body dissatisfaction, here are some tips that may help you cope with these feelings:

• Focus on your strengths . Rather than focusing on your perceived flaws, focus on your strengths and what you like about yourself. This can help shift your focus away from negative thoughts and improve your overall self-esteem.
• Practice self-care. Taking care of yourself can help improve your mood and help you feel better about your body. This can include engaging in regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and eating a healthy diet.
• Challenge negative thoughts . Try to identify and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs that you have about your body. Ask yourself if these thoughts are realistic or if there’s evidence to support them. You can also try to reframe negative thoughts into more positive ones.
• Surround yourself with positive influences . Surround yourself with people who support and uplift you. Avoid people or social media accounts that make you feel bad about your body.

Tips for parents

Here are some tips for parents who suspect their child may be experiencing body dissatisfaction via social media:

• Talk about media literacy . Teach your child about media literacy and how images on social media can be altered or manipulated. Help them understand that the images they see are not always realistic.
• Be a positive role model . Try to model healthy behaviors around body image and self-esteem. Encourage your child to focus on their strengths and positive qualities, rather than their perceived flaws.
• Monitor social media use. Monitor your child’s use of social media and limit exposure to images that may trigger a poor body image. Encourage your child to take breaks from social media and engage in other activities that promote positive body image and self-esteem.
• Encourage positive self-talk. Encourage your child to focus on their positive qualities and achievements rather than their appearance. Encourage positive self-talk and help them develop a more positive self-image.

Let’s recap

Social media can affect body image in complex and multifaceted ways. It’s important to be aware of these potential effects and to use social media mindfully.

It’s helpful to reduce your overall use of social media, seek out body-positive images, focus on your strengths, and engage in self-care practices.

Last medically reviewed on February 27, 2023

5 sources collapsed

• A majority of teens have experienced some form of cyberbullying. (2018). Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/09/27/a-majority-of-teens-have-experienced-some-form-of-cyberbullying/
• Griffiths S, et al. (2018). The contribution of social media to body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms, and anabolic steroid use among sexual minority men. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5865626/
• Manning TM, et al. (2022). Broad conceptualisations of beauty do not moderate women’s responses to body positive content on Instagram. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1740144521001339
• Phillips K. (n.d.). Prevalence of BDD. https://bdd.iocdf.org/professionals/prevalence/
• Ramphul K, et al. (2018). Is "Snapchat dysmorphia" a real issue? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5933578/

Read this next

Social media apps like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can have negative effects on your mental health. Here's how they could be impacting your…

Is there a link between social anxiety and social media use? Here's what the experts and research says.

Social media can be helpful for staying connected with friends and loved ones. But too much social media use can be harmful to our relationships.

Sleep deprivation, stress, or underlying health conditions can lead to an inability to focus. Self-help techniques can help improve your concentration.

Positive thinking is an essential practice to improve your overall health and well-being. Discover how to incorporate positive thinking into your…

Dreaming about babies can hold different meanings for everyone. Although theories vary, biological and psychological factors may influence your dreams.

If you're seeking to boost your concentration, practicing mindfulness, chewing gum, and brain games are just a few techniques to try. Learn how they…

Creating a schedule and managing stress are ways to make your days go by faster. Changing your perception of time can also improve your overall…

Experiencing unwanted and difficult memories can be challenging. But learning how to replace negative memories with positive ones may help you cope.

Engaging in brain exercises, like sudoku puzzles and learning new languages, enhances cognitive abilities and improves overall well-being.

Social Media And Beauty Standards Essay

Body image and self-esteem are important issues for people of all ages, but they can be especially damaging for young people. The pressure to meet unrealistic beauty standards can lead to serious health problems, including eating disorders, anxiety, and depression.

Social media plays a big role in perpetuating these harmful ideals. Every day, users are bombarded with images of perfectly-styled celebrities and models. It’s no wonder that so many people develop body image issues.

The good news is that there is increasing awareness of the problem and more people are speaking out against unrealistic beauty standards. There is also a growing movement of body positive influencers who are promoting healthy attitudes towards appearance. Hopefully, these trends will help to create a more realistic and healthy standard of beauty.

It’s difficult to imagine a world without idealized female imagery, but our current situation is a relatively new occurrence. Before the mass media existed, our notions of beauty were confined to our own communities.

We compare ourselves to those around us, and our idea of beauty is based on what we see. Now, with social media, we are constantly bombarded with images of perfectly sculpted women, and it’s having a damaging effect on our body image.

A study conducted by the University of North Carolina revealed that “women who frequently browsed Facebook felt worse about their own bodies.” The constant stream of images depicting the “perfect” female form can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. In a culture that already puts so much emphasis on physical appearance, social media is exacerbating the problem.

It’s not just women who are affected by these standards; men feel the pressure as well. In a study conducted by the University of Phoenix, it was found that “men who frequently used social media sites were more likely to compare their physiques to others.” This comparison can lead to body dysmorphic disorder, a condition characterized by an obsession with perceived physical defects.

The images we see on social media are often Photoshopped and unrealistic, which furthers the problem. A study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that “comparing oneself to retouched images of models in magazines was associated with increased body dissatisfaction, dieting, and bulimic symptoms for both men and women.”

These standards are having a negative impact on our mental and physical health. Body dissatisfaction can lead to disordered eating, depression, and anxiety. It’s time for us to break free from these unrealistic ideals and learn to love our bodies just the way they are.

Society has always been obsessed with appearance, but until 1839, people were not exposed to real-life images of faces and bodies. Most people did not even own mirrors. Today, we are more fixated on our looks than ever before; however, it is quite normal and understandable given society’s standards.

The standards of beauty that we see in the media are unrealistic and unattainable for most people. The average fashion model weighs 23% less than the average woman, and has a Body Mass Index (BMI) that is considered underweight. In addition, photoshop is used to edit images of models so that they appear even thinner and have perfect skin. As a result, many people develop body image issues and eating disorders from comparing themselves to these unrealistic standards.

Social media plays a big role in perpetuating these beauty standards. We are constantly bombarded with images of perfectly-styled celebrities and Instagram influencers. It’s easy to forget that these pictures are often edited and don’t represent reality.

For many young people, especially girls, the ideal continues to pursue them as they mature into young women. Young ladies begin to internalize the preconceptions and judge themselves based on media’s impossible criteria. The influence that the media has over youngsters’ lives is damaging, and it eventually has an impact on their body image, enjoyment of their own body, and portrayal of their body as an object.

Body image is “the way you see yourself when you look in the mirror or how you picture yourself in your mind” (NEDA 1). It affects both girls and boys, but girls seem to be more prone to developing Body Dysmorphic Disorder and eating disorders because of the overwhelming pressure to be thin and beautiful that society puts on them. Social media plays a big role in young people’s lives, and it has a significant impact on their body image.

One study found that for every hour spent on Facebook, participants reported a lower body satisfaction (Tiggemann & Slater 546). Another study done with adolescents showed that those who used social media more had 2.6 times the odds of reporting poor body image (Paxton, Wertheim, Gibbons, & Lamble 6).

Social media not only has an impact on how people see themselves, but it also changes the way they perceive other people’s lives. A study done with young adults showed that those who spend more time on social media sites such as Facebook tend to believe that others are leading happier and more successful lives than them (Tong, Van Der Pligt, & Verwijmeren 566).

This can lead to feelings of envy and jealousy, as well as a decrease in self-esteem. Social media also has a huge impact on the way people diet and exercise. Studies have shown that seeing pictures of thin models or friends on social media can lead to unhealthy dieting and exercise habits (Tiggemann & Slater 547). In one study, participants who were exposed to thin-ideal images on Facebook reported more body dissatisfaction and desire to diet than those who were not (Paxton et al. 6).

It is clear that social media has a negative impact on the way people see themselves and others. This can lead to a number of health problems, such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder, eating disorders, and body image issues. It is important for young people to be aware of the dangers of social media and its impact on their lives.

Ongoing exposure to certain ideas can shape and distort our perceptions of reality. This is especially true for young girls, who are constantly bombarded with images of perfect-looking people in the media. As a result, they often develop negative body image issues.

Body image is “the way we see ourselves when we look in the mirror and how we feel about our bodies.” (NEDA) It becomes an obsession when someone “can think of nothing else but their appearance and how they can change their looks, no matter how often they diet or exercise.” (NEDA)

The media is partly to blame for this Body Dysmorphic Disorder because it is “plagued with images of perfect people with perfect lives.” (Mintz 2007) Television, movies, magazines, and now social media, are all outlets that display these so-called “perfect people”. With the rise of social media came a new form of advertisement: influencers.

An influencer is “a person with the ability to influence potential customers’ purchasing decisions because they have authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience.” (Meyerson) There are two types of influencers: micro-influencers and macro-influencers. Micro-influencers have a smaller following, usually between 1,000 to 100,000 people, but they have “much higher engagement rates than macro-influencers.” (Meyerson)

More Essays

• How Social Media Affects Body Image Essay
• Media’s Negative Effect On Beauty Image For Women Essay
• Social Media Effects On Women Essay
• Social Media And Body Image Essay
• Social Media’s Negative Effects On Women Today Essay
• The Negative Effects of False Media Images
• Leon Festingers Social Comparison Theory Essay
• Media’s Influence On Young Women Essay
• Essay on Media Influence In Pop Culture
• Media Influence On Body Image Essay

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Aspects of Society Beauty Standards Essay

Introduction, works cited.

Modern society is characterized by constant media appraisal of beauty. Every boy and girl receives the message that being beautiful is important in life. Entire industries revolve around the concepts of physical attractiveness and appeal. Yet, despite the overall acknowledged role of beauty in society, many struggle with identifying elements that characterize a person as beautiful. Comparing and contrasting, illustrating, and cause and effect explanatory strategies will offer insight into the essence of contemporary beauty standards, the most evident examples, and their origins.

The comparing and contrasting strategy will allow for ascertaining what is currently considered beautiful. Although beauty is a subjective concept and its expression is highly dependent on the geographical, economic, and social context, some physical features are most commonly considered attractive. Laham argues that “men tend to prefer women with large wide-set eyes, full lips, high cheekbones, a small nose, a narrow jaw, and full breasts; and who have a low waist-to-hip ratio” (75). This implies that a woman with small eyes, narrow lips, low cheekbones, a large nose, a wide jaw, small breasts, and a large belly would be considered unsightly.

Even though most of the beauty standards revolve around women, certain cultural expectations of male beauty exist as well. Laham lists the following features as most commonly considered beautiful: “a heavy lower face, high degree of facial symmetry, masculine facial dimorphism, broad shoulders, a relatively narrow waist, and a V-shaped torso” (75). In contrast, a man with a lighter face, evident differences between the right and left sides of the face, feminine features, a large belly, and a waist larger than shoulders would not be considered attractive.

Both physical ideals are common in that they accentuate sex-specific characteristics and promote weight stigma. In the same way, physical femininity is preferable for women, masculine features are suitable for men. However, the low weight ratio is a more unifying standard of male and female attractiveness. Current society praises slim bodies in both sexes while criticizing excessive fat. Body size is a significant psychological pressure point for the majority of people, albeit it does affect women more to such a point that many develop mental illnesses because their weight prevents them from feeling beautiful (Ciciurkaite and Perry 35). Therefore, the most distinctive characteristic of present-day beauty standards is low weight.

The illustrating strategy will allow an understanding of the beauty standards via the use of real-life examples. The most appropriate way to locate a woman considered more attractive than others is to analyze the results of beauty pageants. These competitions have been designed specifically to compare female contestants and crown the winner as Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth, or Miss Universe – the most-known pageants in the world. The most evident element of these competitions is that most of the contestants and winners have similar body types, which fit into the previously described ideal (Willett-Wei and Shaw). The most meaningful change over the years is the increasing ethnic diversity of contestants, who still possess similar physiques.

However, beauty pageant winners are not as famous as cinema celebrities. Jayne Mansfield, Kim Novak, and Marilyn Monroe exemplify women with hourglass figures (Laham 80). Penélope Cruz and Angelina Jolie showcase the beauty standard for lips (Laham 157). Scarlett Johansson, Minka Kelly, and Emilia Clarke are praised for their seductive hair (Aziz, Neelum, and Akhtar 81). Finally, the most important beauty standard is youthful appearance, with photographers and cinematographers attempting using various techniques to hide one’s age as is the case with Charlize Theron (Aziz, Neelum, and Akhtar 84). These women are recognized as beauty icons in the industry and the general population.

As most of the media attention centers on ascertaining the most attractive women, icons of beauty among men are less evident. Nevertheless, there are cinema stars that have gained the most recognition for their appearance. For example, in the media perception, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Keanu Reeves are seen as objectively attractive (La Force). Another example of the cinema industry emphasizing male beauty is Tom Cruise’s role in the movie Top Gun . The only physical feature that would not characterize him as beautiful is his short height. However, scenes were shot in such a manner that this subtlety is almost not seen by the viewer, which further corroborates the established beauty standard for men.

The cause-and-effect exploratory strategy explains the origins of contemporary beauty standards. Even though there is evidence that infants who have not been exposed to media narratives react to beautiful faces more positively than to unsightly ones, the perception of beauty itself has changed over history (Aziz, Neelum, and Akhtar 78). One of the oldest explanations for why beauty is considered important lies in the perception of attractive people as noble and their opposites as evil (Srivastava 4). Even though cultural awareness has moved beyond this assumption, the reaction of toddlers suggests that such behavior is unconscious.

The biological explanation of physical attractiveness attributes the perception of beauty to the ability of humans to procreate and provide for the future. For instance, wide shoulders allowed men to carry prey that would feed the family, while “a tight, muscular rear is necessary to make the strong forward thrusting motion needed for successful sperm transfer during sex” (Pease and Pease 315). Meanwhile, the youthful appearance of a woman’s breasts, long legs, and rounded buttocks communicates the message of her fertility and childbearing ability (Pease and Pease 306). Even though the complexity of the human body is too high to make such assumptions, these signals are unconscious as is the perception of beauty.

Finally, mathematical proportions of parts of the human body are also a strong causative factor of attractiveness. The historic standards of Ancient Greece accentuated the importance of symmetry for beauty (Aziz, Neelum, and Akhtar 77). The beauty of the universally acclaimed portrait Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is also attributed to the use of facial symmetry (Laham 71). This aspect has been passed on through generations and is currently one of the most important criteria used in beauty pageants to identify the winner (Srivastava 4). As a result, there is a mathematical explanation of beauty, which has persisted through history and is expressed in the form of symmetry.

In conclusion, comparing and contrasting, illustrating, and cause and effect explanatory strategies showcase that society’s beauty standards are both unique and consistent with traditional values. The recent hundred years have seen the codification of principles of physical attractiveness for men and women. Symmetry, low weight, and sexual dimorphism determine whether a person is considered attractive or not. Most elements of beauty have a biological or mathematical explanation, which causes the unconscious perception of beauty. Combined with media exposure, it explains why current beauty standards are so similar despite the diversity of cultures and societies.

Aziz, Selina, Neelum Almas, and Amer Akhtar. “Feminine Beauty in the Hyperreal World: A Postmodern Analysis of Esquire’s Women We Love.” Journal of Gender and Social Issues , vol. 20, no. 1, 2021, pp. 77-88.

Ciciurkaite, Gabriele, and Brea L. Perry. “Body Weight, Perceived Weight Stigma and Mental Health among Women at the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status: Insights from the Modified Labelling Approach.” Sociology of Health & Illness , vol. 40, no. 1, 2018, pp. 18-37.

La Force, Thessaly. “Viggo Mortensen, the Unlikely Leading Man.” The New York Times , Web.

Laham, Martha. Made Up: How the Beauty Industry Manipulates Consumers, Preys on Women’s Insecurities, and Promotes Unattainable Beauty Standards . Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2020.

Pease, Barbara, and Pease, Allan. The Definitive Book of Body Language: How to Read Others’ Attitudes by Their Gestures . Orion, 2017.

Srivastava, Simpi. “Global Production of a Feminine Ideal: Behind the Scenes of Beauty Pageants.” Glocalism: Journal of Culture, Politics and Innovation , vol. 1, 2020, pp. 1-15.

Top Gun . Directed by Tony Scott, Paramount Pictures, 1986.

Willett-Wei, Megan and Gabbi Shaw. “THEN AND NOW: How the Miss Universe Pageant Has Evolved over the Last 69 Years” . Insider , Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, September 3). Aspects of Society Beauty Standards. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspects-of-society-beauty-standards/

"Aspects of Society Beauty Standards." IvyPanda , 3 Sept. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/aspects-of-society-beauty-standards/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Aspects of Society Beauty Standards'. 3 September.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Aspects of Society Beauty Standards." September 3, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspects-of-society-beauty-standards/.

1. IvyPanda . "Aspects of Society Beauty Standards." September 3, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspects-of-society-beauty-standards/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Aspects of Society Beauty Standards." September 3, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/aspects-of-society-beauty-standards/.

• Beauty Pageants for Children: Persuasive Speech
• Beauty Pageants for Children Should Be Banned
• Child Beauty Pageants Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana
• The 1968 Protest of the Miss America Pageant
• Feminist Miss America Pageant Protest of 1968
• Beauty Concepts in Saudi Arabia
• "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" Play: Actors Game
• The Play "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"
• Olive's Character in the "Little Miss Sunshine"
• Female Sexuality in Media of the 1950s
• Social Sciences: The “Culture of Smartness”
• Workplace Socialization and Newcomer Turnover
• Socialization: Obeying the Established Rules
• Working In Teams: New Norm in the Contemporary World
• Importance of Socialization for Personality

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

Toxic Beauty Standards Can Be Passed Down

By Alexandra D’Amour

Ms. D’Amour is a writer based in California. She writes about motherhood and matriarchy.

When my best friend and I lived together 13 years ago, our shared bathroom had a handful of products: soap, tanning lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, potpourri and maybe, occasionally, a face cream that one of us found on sale at Walgreens. No serums, no toners, no anti-aging products. We never considered we wouldn’t be young forever. Our bank accounts were empty, our pores were clogged, our mascara wands were dry — but we were 22, and we were allowed to be messy. We were allowed to be young.

Our generation came of age during the ’90s toxic diet culture. Millennials weren’t taught to fear aging; we were taught to fear fat. Butter was our enemy . When we watched Victoria’s Secret Angels walk down the runaway, we loathed ourselves. Disordered eating may have been a psychiatric issue, but it was also symptomatic of a social problem . And if you had a mother who internalized diet culture and projected it onto her children, the damage could also happen from within the family. Researchers have found that mothers who encourage weight loss or food restriction or even express dissatisfaction with their body weight may lead to their daughters’ becoming more likely to have eating-related problems.

As my generation grew up and became more conscious of the impacts of diet culture, we began to openly celebrate and encourage body positivity. Many of us became aware of our own body dysmorphia. We began seeing clearly how we were manipulated to shrink and hate every part of our bodies.

And yet, even if parts of society came to terms with natural bodies, the same cannot be said for the natural process of women aging. Wrinkles are the new enemy, and it seems Gen Z — and their younger sisters — are terrified of them. A recent video on TikTok that has garnered more than eight million views features a 28-year-old woman showing her “raw,” procedure-free face, meaning no Botox or fillers. As some women and girls cheered on her bravery, others were left horrified. “Praying I’ll never look like that,” one comment read.

Gen Z-ers are being introduced to the idea of starting treatments early as preventive treatment. They are growing up in a culture of social media that promotes the endless pursuit of maintaining youth — and at home, some of them are watching their mothers reject aging with every injectable and serum they can find. Jessica DeFino , a beauty writer, recently coined the term Serum Mom to describe a mother who is “obsessed with meeting a certain standard of beauty and nurtures the same obsession in her children.”

For me, lessons of preventive skin care came from social media, not my mother. I was a few years shy of 30, digging into Instagram and series like Emily Weiss’s Into the Gloss’s Top Shelf . My skin care regimen suddenly became a 10-part routine, each step promising beauty and extended youth.

Since then, the rise of TikTok seems to have increased the way anti-aging beauty standards are consumed and internalized. Many girls and women now have endless access to social media posts of skin-care purchase hauls and plastic surgery before-and-after slide shows.

There’s a nickname for tweens and teenagers who have been influenced by social media to get into skin care: Sephora Kids . Johanna Almstead, a fashion industry friend, tells me that in her local mothers group chat, nearly every mom had “Skincare, skincare, skincare!” on the holiday gift lists they were given — by their fifth graders. Her 10-year-old daughter doesn’t have access to social media, but she is exposed to this skin care obsession through friends, who are copying TikTok beauty influencers and whose parents are buying the products for them — acids, peels and toners — even though many of these products are meant for actually aging or acne-prone skin .

Representatives for the pricey brand Drunk Elephant ( a tween favorite ) posted on Instagram in December a list of products safe for kids and tweens. Buying a 10-year-old a colorfully packaged lip gloss or adult moisturizer may seem trivial, but it seems to me it can create a pipeline to a 15-year-old discussing forehead wrinkles on TikTok. We need to be wary of how the cosmetics industry can manipulate both mothers and kids and how, by backing it, we as mothers create a new set of worries for our children.

The anti-aging craze comes with the same toxicity as diet culture does. Serum Moms didn’t create ageism, just as our mothers didn’t create diet culture. But considering the speed at which social media is pushing ever more unattainable beauty standards onto children, it’s time for us to consider our moral obligation to minimizing damage for the next generation.

Mothers are both victims and perpetrators of a culture that sells women the lie that we aren’t enough exactly as we are. And yet, if a mother’s insecurity can fuel her daughter’s own self-loathing, a mother’s radical self-love might just protect and even heal her daughter from a toxic culture. When I ask the few friends who haven’t gotten Botox why they haven’t, they tell me it’s because they love how their mothers are aging and how they embrace it. They don’t fear aging because their mothers don’t (or didn’t). Culture may set the tone for unattainable beauty standards, but we mothers and the women around us have power to change the trajectory of our daughters’ insecurities and internal monologue.

I still think about my weight every day, but I fear that the impact of Serum Moms and anti-aging culture will be worse than the lessons I learned as I was growing up. I wish I grew up with women who truly nourished themselves — mothers who ate when they were hungry; mothers who ate toast, pasta and birthday cake; mothers who simply ate. I look at my daughter’s beautiful face, cheeks full of butter and innocence, and I want her to know that she’s enough as is.

Alexandra D’Amour is a writer based in California. She writes about motherhood and matriarchy.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , X and Threads .

Home — Essay Samples — Psychology — Body Image — Unrealistic Beauty Standards on Social Media and Their Impact

Unrealistic Beauty Standards on Social Media and Their Impact

• Categories: Beauty Body Image Effects of Social Media

About this sample

Words: 2004 |

11 min read

Published: Aug 4, 2023

Words: 2004 | Pages: 4 | 11 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, unrealistic beauty standards on social media, harmful impact of beauty standards on mental health, unhealthy body image and physical health, challenging unrealistic beauty standards, the scope of beauty standards on social media, solutions to the issue of unrealistic standards on social media.

• Achieng, Jackline. “Cultural Beauty Practices From Around The World That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of.” Culture Trip, 7 May 2018, www.culturetrip.com/africa/kenya/articles/cultural-beauty-practices-from-around-the-world/.
• Australian Medical Association. “Body Image and Health.” Australian Medical Association, 2012.
• Caprino, Kathy. “The Shocking Truth About The Effects Of Social Media On Women's Body Image.” Forbes, 26 Aug. 2017, www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2017/08/26/the-shocking-truth-about-the-effects-of-social-media-on-womens-body-image/?sh=4dc1f9c9e72f.
• Hurley, Kelsey. “Social Media's Impact on Body Image.” National Eating Disorders Association, 2019, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/social-medias-impact-body-image.
• Oakes, Emily. “The Mental Health Impact of Instagram.” The Odyssey Online, 17 Nov. 2016, www.theodysseyonline.com/mental-health-impact-instagram.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof. Kifaru

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life Psychology Sociology

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1544 words

2 pages / 963 words

3 pages / 1249 words

4 pages / 1906 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Body Image

Bennett, S. (2014). The selfie. Photography and Culture, 7(1), 75-92.Carrotte, E. R., Vella, A. M., Lim, M. S., & Hellard, M. E. (2015). “Fitspiration” on social media: A content analysis of gendered images. Journal of Medical [...]

The adolescent years are a crucial period for self-discovery and identity development. Body image and self-esteem play a significant role in shaping the experiences of adolescents. This qualitative essay embarks on an in-depth [...]

Essay about self-image delves into the intricate relationship between how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us. Our self-image plays a pivotal role in shaping our confidence, choices, and interactions with the world. [...]

Body image is a complex and multi-faceted concept that encompasses a person's thoughts, feelings, and perceptions about their physical appearance. It is influenced by a variety of factors, including societal standards of beauty, [...]

In today's time many of the stimulants that Bodybuilders use for strength boosting, Clenbuterol reactions can and do happen. A portion of these are gentle and leave alone after some time. However, others may turn out to be [...]

The 1950s were a time of significant change in American society, particularly when it came to body image. This era marked the beginning of the modern obsession with thinness, as the hourglass figure of the 1940s gave way to a [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Alzheimer's & Dementia
• Asthma & Allergies
• Atopic Dermatitis
• Breast Cancer
• Cardiovascular Health
• Environment & Sustainability
• Exercise & Fitness
• Headache & Migraine
• Health Equity
• HIV & AIDS
• Human Biology
• Men's Health
• Mental Health
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson's Disease
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Sexual Health
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Women's Health
• Nutrition & Fitness
• Vitamins & Supplements
• At-Home Testing
• Men’s Health
• Women’s Health
• Latest News
• Medical Myths
• Honest Nutrition
• Through My Eyes
• New Normal Health
• 2023 in medicine
• Why exercise is key to living a long and healthy life
• What do we know about the gut microbiome in IBD?
• My podcast changed me
• Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health?
• Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut
• Health Hubs
• Find a Doctor
• BMI Calculators and Charts
• Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide
• Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide
• Sleep Calculator
• RA Myths vs Facts
• Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction
• Our Editorial Process
• Content Integrity
• Conscious Language
• Health Conditions
• Health Products

What is the connection between beauty standards and mental health?

Evidence shows that beauty standards can affect individual mental health. Social media, television, and film can all portray unrealistic beauty standards and create pressure for people to look a certain way.

Beauty standards in society tell people how they “should” look. However, with the inundation of media in today’s society, there is more pressure for people, especially young females, to look a certain way and have a specific body type.

This pressure can affect the mental health of individuals. It can lead to an increased risk of low self-esteem, negative body image, eating disorders, and depression.

This article explains how beauty standards can affect mental health. It also discusses how beauty standards can lead to mental health conditions and how people can cope with these effects.

A note about sex and gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more .

How do beauty standards affect mental health?

Body image concerns are a growing issue globally. With an inundation of images via social media and television, the mental health of individuals, especially females and young people, is an issue that is on the rise.

Young females are more likely to experience body image issues because females in the United States often feel pressure to measure up to unrealistic beauty standards that are placed on them by society and culture.

A meta-analysis from 2008 showed that exposure to thin-ideal body types through the media is directly related to body image concerns among females.

These body image issues can also contribute to various mental health issues, including:

• eating disorders
• self-esteem issues
• social isolation

What are beauty standards?

Beauty standards are the ideals and perceptions of beauty that society and culture place on people. They determine what is considered “beautiful” and can include height and weight, facial proportions, and body shape.

Research notes that these standards may contribute to the growing body image issues for various reasons. This includes that in the U.S. females are exposed to messages about how they should look from the moment they are born. Teens and young girls are also more likely to be given praise for how they look rather than for their actions or thoughts.

They are also constantly shown images through the media of unrealistic standards. Many of the images have been altered using technology, causing these young females to strive for body ideals and beauty that do not actually exist.

Read about social media and mental health.

Do you feel pressured by beauty standards?

You are not alone. According to a 2017 survey by the Dove Self-Esteem Project, 5 in 10 young females feel medium to high pressure to look “beautiful,” and 6 in 10 feel pressure to always look at least “acceptable.”

The survey also found that 70% of young females feel there is too much importance placed on beauty in defining happiness for females.

Beauty standards and mental health conditions

The pressure of societal beauty standards can lead to the exacerbation or development of various mental health conditions.

Low self-esteem

According to the 2017 Dove Self-Esteem Project survey, 54% of females ages 10–17 globally have low to medium body esteem.

Research from 2019 found that 10–30% of males feel dissatisfied with their bodies, with 69% of male adolescents feeling dissatisfied with their bodies due to their weight.

Body dissatisfaction can lead to poorer quality of life and psychological distress. It can also increase the risk of unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders.

Negative body image, or body dissatisfaction, can also lead to low self-esteem. This can affect various aspects of daily life. For example, an individual may choose not to be around other people or constantly obsess about how much they exercise or eat.

Read more about self-esteem.

Eating disorders

Body image is a risk factor for various eating disorders. It is also part of the diagnostic criteria for both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa .

The Dove Self-Esteem Project survey of 2017 found that globally 5 in 10 young females have put their health at risk by not eating or not going to the doctor. Among those who already experience a low body image, 8 in 10 have put their health at risk in these ways.

Body dissatisfaction can also increase a person’s risk for disordered eating and other harmful behaviors to change their appearance. This may include:

• restrictive eating
• steroid use
• using diet pills
• exercising excessively

Help is available

Eating disorders can severely affect the quality of life of people living with these conditions and those close to them. Early intervention and treatment greatly improve the likelihood of recovery.

Anyone who suspects they or a loved one may have an eating disorder can contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders , which offers a daytime helpline staffed by licensed therapists and an online search tool for treatment options.

For general mental health support at any time, people can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24 hours a day at 1-800-662-4357 (or 1-800-487-4889 for TTY).

Many other resources are also available, including:

• The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
• F.E.A.S.T. , which provides support and educational resources to friends and family who want to help someone living with an eating disorder

Learn more about eating disorders.

Research has shown a strong association between body image dissatisfaction and symptoms of depression . According to research from 2020 , this is especially true among young females who have overweight or obesity .

Other research from 2017 found that adolescents with body image dissatisfaction were 3.7 times more likely to experience and report depressive symptoms.

Research from 2017 noted that body image dissatisfaction has strong links to symptoms of anxiety disorders in adolescents. The research showed that higher baseline levels of body image dissatisfaction were directly related to higher initial symptoms of anxiety disorders, such as:

• generalized anxiety disorder
• panic disorder
• social anxiety disorder

Some people experience excessive concern about the way others perceive their bodies. These concerns about how others may judge them based on their weight, height, or body shape can cause embarrassment, worry, and shame. Some may refer to this as social physique anxiety.

Social isolation

The 2017 Dove Self-Esteem Project notes that 6 in 10 young females globally have chosen not to attend social engagement or be assertive in their opinions because of their self-esteem. Among those with low body esteem, these numbers were 8 in 10.

The survey also found that 4 in 10 young females have opted not to participate in sports or extra-curricular activities because they are not comfortable with the way their bodies look.

As females age, their body image dissatisfaction can also affect their ability to be intimate with their partner. Body dissatisfaction can, therefore, affect all aspects of a person’s life.

How people are exposed to beauty standards

Individuals, especially females, in the U.S. are exposed to societal beauty standards from the moment they are infants, throughout childhood, and into adulthood. This exposure can occur in a number of different ways.

Social media

Over the last decade or so the use of social media has grown. This is especially true among teenagers and young adults.

This has led to an increased comparison to other people’s bodies, higher levels of body dissatisfaction, and a higher drive for thinness among these groups.

A survey among teenagers in the United Kingdom found that 40% of them reported that social media images resulted in them worrying about their own bodies.

Do you feel pressure from social media?

Many people, especially young people, feel pressure from social media. This is especially true among young females. Social media brings people closer together. However, it can also affect your body image and self-esteem. It can also expose you to other issues like cyberbullying .

The American Psychological Association (APA) found that teens and young adults who reduced their social media usage by 50% for even just a few weeks saw improvement in the way they feel about their overall appearance.

If you are feeling pressure about your body or appearance, limiting your time on social media may help.

Read more about how social media affects youths and mental health .

Parents and caregivers

Parents and caregivers can have influence over children and their mental health in various ways.

According to the Office on Women’s Health , children who grow up with parents or caregivers who are constantly worried about their own weight or their child’s weight may be more likely to grow up to have a negative body image.

How to cope with the mental health effects of beauty standards

There are various ways a person can help themselves to cope with the mental health effects of beauty standards. These include :

• avoiding or deleting social media apps that cause distress over one’s image
• being mindful about the images one sees online or in the media and how they make one feel when they look at them
• modeling positive self-talk by treating oneself kindly
• being aware of the language one uses among peers and friends and the effects it can have
• speaking to a healthcare or mental health professional if the mental health effects of beauty standards begin to affect day-to-day life

Societal beauty standards can put a lot of pressure on individuals to look a certain way or have a specific body shape. The influence of these standards can affect a person’s mental health in various ways.

Beauty standards can increase the risk of eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and social isolation. This is especially true among young females.

Limiting time on social media and speaking with a mental health professional can help individuals cope with the mental health effects of societal beauty standards.

Last medically reviewed on May 1, 2024

• Psychology / Psychiatry

How we reviewed this article:

• Body image. (2021). https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/body-image-and-mental-health/body-image
• Body image and eating disorders. (n.d.). https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/body-image-and-eating-disorders/
• Body image and mental health. (n.d.). https://mentalhealth-uk.org/body-image-and-mental-health/
• Body image report – Executive summary. (n.d.). https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/articles/body-image-report-executive-summary
• Flores-Cornejo F, et al. (2017). Association between body image dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms in adolescents. https://www.scielo.br/j/rbp/a/t53rstnzq3LZkDQNX56mNtK/?lang=en#
• Goldfield G. (2023). Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/02/social-media-body-image
• Grabe S, et al. (2008). The role of the media in body image concerns among women: a meta-analysis of experimental and correlational studies. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18444705/
• Jiotsa B, et al. (2021). Social media use and body image disorders: association between frequency of comparing one’s own physical appearance to that of people being followed on social media and body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. / https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8001450
• McLean SA, et al. (2019). Body image in the context of eating disorders. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0193953X18311535?via%3Dihub
• Millions of teenagers worry about body image and identify social media as a key cause – new survey by the Mental Health Foundation. (2019). https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/about-us/news/millions-teenagers-worry-about-body-image-and-identify-social-media-key-cause-new-survey-mental
• Quittkat HL, et al. (2019). Body dissatisfaction, importance of appearance, and body appreciation in men and women over the lifespan. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6928134/
• Rodgers RF, et al. (2023). Body image as a global mental health concern. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9970735/
• Soares LC, et al. (2020). Body image dissatisfaction and symptoms of depression disorder in adolescents. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7727113/
• The 2017 Dove global girls beauty and confidence report. (2017). https://digitaluniversity.womendeliver.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Mod-1-2017-Dove-Global-Girls-Beauty-and-Confidence-Report.pdf
• Zartaloudi A, et al. (2023). Body image, social physique anxiety levels and self-esteem among adults participating in physical activity programs. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10204469/

Share this article

Latest news

• Ancient grains linked to improved type 2 diabetes outcomes
• Seafood, eggs, and meat may help lower the risk of bipolar disorder
• Psilocybin found in magic mushrooms shows promise as a treatment for depression
• How 'switching on' brown fat may protect against obesity
• Sleep deprived? Study finds creatine supplements may improve cognitive performance

Related Coverage

There are ways a person can improve their mental health. These include exercise, connection with others, and creativity. Learn more here.

A person with body dysmorphic disorder becomes overly anxious about a minor or imagined physical imperfection. They may believe that there is…

Some people may wish to consider taking social media breaks to improve their mental well-being or sleep quality. Learn more here.

Looksmaxxing is an online trend which involves a person making changes to their appearance to fit in with certain beauty standards. Learn more here.

Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) is an attachment disorder that causes children to be over-friendly with strangers. Learn more here.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on SMS
• Share on Email

• KARE 11 Investigates
• Land of 10,000 Stories
• Breaking the News
• MN & Co.
• News at Noon
• Closings & Delays
• KARE 11 Saturday
• Weatherminds
• Lifting Voices
• Grow with KARE
• Behind the Business
• Healthfair 11
• Communities that KARE
• Advertise With Us
• TV Listings
• Meet the KARE 11 team

The unrealistic standards of beauty

More Videos

Next up in 5

Example video title will go here for this video

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn — A recent study revealed that 40% of young girls feel compelled to change their appearance after viewing influencers' images on social media. They also found that 39% of women feel pressured to change their image based on what they view online — even if they know a photo has been generated by AI. 

Dr. Sarah Paper, a child and teen psychologist at Allina Health , joined KARE 11 Saturday to talk about the impact of social media and unrealistic standards of beauty can have on women's and girl's mental health.

Related Articles

• A teen clothing retailer is going out of business and closing all its stores
• An AI-powered fighter jet took the Air Force's leader for a historic ride. What that means for war
• Sam's Club rolls out new AI technology it says gets you out faster

Watch more KARE 11 Saturday :

Watch the latest coverage from KARE11 Saturday in our  YouTube playlist:

WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+

Download the free KARE 11+ app  for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota. 

• Add KARE 11+ on Roku here  or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store. 
• Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here  or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store. 
• Learn more about the  KARE 11+ app for Apple TV  in the Apple App Store.
• Learn  more about KARE 11+ here .

Before You Leave, Check This Out

KARE would like to send you push notifications about the latest news and weather.

Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings.

BU Study Shows a Correlation between Social Media Use and Desire for Cosmetic Procedures

The more time you spend on image-led social media, like instagram and snapchat, the more likely you are to want to alter your appearance.

Have you ever considered getting a cosmetic procedure? If so, new research from BU dermatologists suggests your social media activity could play a part in your decision-making. Photo via iStock/Su Arslanoglu

Alene Bouranova

It’s a familiar pattern: you open your social media app of choice and end up sucked into a digital wormhole, mindlessly scrolling while the real world fades away. Maybe you even decide to post something, and pick out a filter to apply to your latest selfie or vacation photo. Or maybe you run your pic through an app like Facetune, tweaking your appearance to look your best. 

Your photo then becomes one of the countless altered images coursing through social media users’ feeds, subtly shifting the goalposts for conventions of attractiveness. The question is: What effect does that have on our perceptions of ourselves and our willingness to make more permanent changes to our appearance?

A new study from dermatologists at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine demonstrates a suspected trend: the more time you spend on social media, scrolling past endless images of perfectly sculpted faces and bodies, the more likely you are to want to undergo a cosmetic procedure.

The study comes at a time when it’s easier than ever to go under the knife (or needle) to alter your appearance. Elective procedures—non-medically necessary dermal fillers, Botox, chemical peels, laser treatments, implants, plastic surgery—have become more accessible in recent years, in part due to developments in cosmetic technology. And, with more and more celebrities being open about their look-changing procedures—like actress Megan Fox on Alex Cooper’s (COM’17) Call Her Daddy podcast —they’re also much less taboo.

The BU researchers set out to understand how social media influences users’ perceptions of beauty, and if popular apps inadvertently encourage people to alter their appearance. They polled 175 individuals at an outpatient dermatology clinic from 2019 to 2022 about their social media usage, their perception of cosmetic procedures, and their personal desire to undergo cosmetic procedures. The study also split respondents into two groups—pre-pandemic and post-pandemic—to analyze whether a recent national rise in cosmetic dermatology was driven by COVID-era changes in social media and video conferencing use. The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology .

The results showed that spending time on image-led platforms like Instagram and Snapchat—and, in particular, adding filters or using photo-editing apps before sharing photos—strongly correlated with respondents’ desire to undergo a cosmetic procedure. The researchers also found that following influencers and celebrities on social media made respondents significantly more likely to want to undergo cosmetic work, as did following accounts that highlight cosmetic procedures (such as those that analyze before and after pictures). The study noted a major bump among respondents from the post-pandemic group who followed cosmetic procedure–related accounts online and indicated a desire to undergo work of their own.

“One of the most significant findings was that many more people post-COVID had thought about having a cosmetic procedure done, or had even discussed it with a dermatologist or a physician, and believed that doing so would help their self-esteem,” says Neelam Vashi , a BU medical school associate professor of dermatology and corresponding author on the study.

One of the most significant findings was that many more people post-COVID had thought about having a cosmetic procedure done, or had even discussed it with a dermatologist or a physician, and believed that doing so would help their self-esteem. Neelam Vashi

That doesn’t mean social media is directly responsible for patients going out and seeking treatment, Vashi says. But a user who was already considering pursuing a treatment—say, lip injections for fuller lips or buccal fat removal for more pronounced cheekbones—is more likely to book an appointment as a result of targeted exposure to procedures online.

The findings weren’t necessarily surprising to Vashi, founder of the BU Center for Ethnic Skin and director of the BU Cosmetic and Laser Center at Boston Medical Center, the University’s primary teaching hospital. “Much of my research revolves around understanding the intricacies of beauty perception, and what defines beauty standards,” she says. “In the logic of social media, the use of filters has completely changed our perception of beauty and what can be achieved.” 

And it’s not just social media driving the results. The rise of video conferencing during COVID lockdowns also likely contributed to patients’ increasing desire to get work done, the researchers concluded. “Even on Zoom, there’s a feature where you can blur your appearance and remove any blemishes,” says Vashi, who notes an uptick in her patients asking for procedures to even their skin tones. 

Self-esteem is at the core of the study, according to Vashi. In our increasingly visual world—and one in which everything we see online is potentially edited or AI-generated—it can be demoralizing when your appearance doesn’t match up with the “ideals” presented to you online. Even when it’s your own face you’re comparing yourself to: in the study, the research team cites Vashi’s prior writings on “Snapchat dysmorphia,” which describes patients dissatisfied by not looking like the filtered versions of themselves they post online.

In the past, Vashi’s patients would sometimes bring in photographs of celebrities they wanted to emulate. “Now, when people are able to filter their own face and make it look more beautiful—even the skin tone, angulate the chin, raise the cheekbones, enlarge the eyes—they bring in these images of themselves that have become very realistic to them because it’s just a beautified version of their own face,” she says.

Of course, Vashi adds, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve your appearance—that’s why we do things like workout, wear makeup, buy new clothes, and myriad other improvement-focused activities. It only becomes concerning when patients seek out cosmetic changes as a fix-all Band-Aid for their self-esteem issues, or become fixated on unrealistic expectations for themselves, she says.

Going forward, Vashi hopes the study motivates dermatologists and other providers to further check in with patients about their social media usage and why they might be seeking treatments. She also hopes it inspires social media users to be mindful of how they use the internet, and to step away from their screen if they notice their self-esteem taking a hit. Parents, too, should monitor what their children are consuming online, and should be prepared to have conversations about how that content can influence how they feel about themselves.

Zoom, social media—“they’re not going anywhere,” Vashi says. “In looking at ourselves and comparing it to what we see on screens, it’s really going to take an effort by all parties to keep a healthy outlook on what we see online.”

Explore Related Topics:

• Social Media
• Share this story
• 0 Comments Add

Writer/Editor Twitter Profile

Alene Bouranova is a Pacific Northwest native and a BU alum (COM’16). After earning a BS in journalism, she spent four years at Boston magazine writing, copyediting, and managing production for all publications. These days, she covers campus happenings, current events, and more for BU Today . Fun fact: she’s still using her Terrier card from 2013. When she’s not writing about campus, she’s trying to lose her Terrier card so BU will give her a new one. She lives in Cambridge with her plants. Profile

Alene Bouranova can be reached at [email protected]

Comments & Discussion

Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

Post a comment. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest from The Brink

Covid-19 photo contest winners capture moments of joy, sorrow, meaning in crisis, how high-level lawsuits are disrupting climate change policies, the h5n1 bird flu is a growing threat for farm animals and humans—how serious is it, why is a bu researcher so fascinated with the diets of dung beetles, we are underestimating the health harms of climate disasters, three bu researchers elected aaas fellows, should people be fined for sleeping outside, secrets of ancient egyptian nile valley settlements found in forgotten treasure, not having job flexibility or security can leave workers feeling depressed, anxious, and hopeless, bu electrical engineer vivek goyal named a 2024 guggenheim fellow, can the bias in algorithms help us see our own, do immigrants and immigration help the economy, how do people carry such heavy loads on their heads, do alcohol ads promote underage drinking, how worried should we be about us measles outbreaks, stunning new image shows black hole’s immensely powerful magnetic field, it’s not just a pharmacy—walgreens and cvs closures can exacerbate health inequities, how does science misinformation affect americans from underrepresented communities, what causes osteoarthritis bu researchers win $46 million grant to pursue answers and find new treatments.