The Impact of Social Media on Beauty Standards

Social media impacts your body image in both positive and negative ways. It all depends on how you engage with it, so being intentional and strategic is key. While certain social media content can harm your body image, other content can boost it and foster a healthier mindset. Ultimately, your experience on social media is shaped by the content you consume and the accounts you follow.

Negative Effects

Inflated Standards of Beauty

Social media often showcases images of people with flawless faces and bodies, enhanced by filters and photo editing tools. These images can set unrealistic beauty standards and lead to body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem in both women and men.

This phenomenon has even led to a condition called “Snapchat dysphoria,” where people become obsessed with looking like their filtered selves. A 2018 research paper revealed that plastic surgeons have reported seeing patients who want to look like their “filtered” Snapchat photos.

Causes Feelings of Inadequacy

A 2021 survey found that teens who use beauty filters are more likely to want plastic surgery. Defined by a 2021 MIT Technology Review, beauty filters are “automated photo editing tools that use artificial intelligence and computer vision to detect facial features and alter them.” These filters, popular among young people, often reflect conventional beauty standards by lightening skin, slimming noses, and even changing body shapes. This use of filters reinforces narrow beauty ideals and creates false personas on social media. Consequently, many teens feel more confident online than in real life due to their reliance on filters and Photoshop.

Cyberbullying

Social media often becomes a hotspot for cyberbullying, with people being targeted for their body size, shape, or appearance. This can severely impact body image and self-esteem. Such people develop complexes and lock themselves in without outside help.

According to a survey, 59% of U.S. teens have faced cyberbullying. This includes offensive name-calling and the spreading of false rumors, among other forms of harassment.

Provoke Biased Comparison

Social media often fosters a toxic environment of comparison and competition, where people compare their bodies to others and try to match unrealistic beauty standards.

Users typically share only their best photos, which don’t reflect their everyday appearance. This behavior can negatively impact body image for both men and women, potentially leading to mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Encourage Dangerous Habits

Social media can significantly impact self-esteem. A 2022 study on TikTok and diet culture found that popular videos often promote disordered eating, portraying thin body types as ideal and exploiting viewers’ insecurities.

Teenagers creating new accounts were exposed to content promoting eating disorders within just 8 minutes. This has serious consequences. A 2024 study found that “thinspiration” and “fitspiration” content can trigger poor body image and eating disorders, especially in susceptible young people.

Positive Effects

Representation

Social media has turned almost everyone into a content creator, breaking away from narrow beauty standards. Now, you can follow a diverse mix of people online—of all sizes, races, abilities, genders, and backgrounds—not just those who fit traditional beauty norms.

Seeing others who look like you enjoying and celebrating their bodies can make you feel more comfortable doing the same. Perhaps this is the best time to clean up your device memory, even using the phone app, and create your own publication. When you use the Cleanup App, you get rid of duplicate photos and free up memory. It’s a great way to organize your memory.

Increase Demand For Cosmetic Procedures

Social media has increased awareness of cosmetic procedures like Botox, which reduce muscle activity and wrinkles. Around 11 million people globally have used Botox.

Kylie Jenner’s Instagram selfies after her lip injections sparked a trend in lip enhancements. With more time spent on apps like Instagram and Zoom, people have become more conscious of their appearance.  Social media has also highlighted surgical options like facelifts and blepharoplasties.

Body Positivity

When used healthily, social media can promote body positivity by showcasing authentic images that encourage self-love and acceptance. This content often features diverse body shapes, sizes, races, physical abilities, and gender identities without enhancement or sexualization.

A 2021 study examined the impact of body-positive social media on body image. It included 233 female-identifying participants who were divided into three groups:

1. Body-Positive Group: Viewed Instagram images reflecting the body-positive movement.
2. Body-Positive Group with Captions: Viewed the same images with captions and hashtags.
3. Control Group: Viewed Instagram images of cityscapes without people or captions.

The study found that participants who viewed body-positive content, with or without captions, experienced improved body satisfaction. The group exposed to captions saw slightly stronger effects, suggesting that reinforcing words and phrases can enhance the positive impact.

Analysis of Self

Many users post content as themselves rather than as an organization, making social media a vehicle for self-reflection. They can evaluate their values, backgrounds, and identities, paving the way for personal improvement. Social media also provides resources that make self-improvement more tangible.

In the beauty community, social media helps users identify qualities they love about themselves or areas where they want to improve their beautification skills. They can find self-care and beauty tips from other users, which may boost their confidence or enhance their appearance.

More Information About Healthier Skincare Routines

With healthcare professionals and skincare enthusiasts increasingly active on social media, there’s a growing emphasis on maintaining healthy skin through daily habits. Dermatologists and healthcare providers are leveraging these platforms to promote preventative health, particularly raising awareness about skin cancer and the importance of sun protection. Thanks to their efforts, more people are prioritizing skincare routines and correctly applying sunscreen.

Social media has also fostered global connections among skincare lovers. The viral popularity of Korean skincare routines, for instance, can be largely attributed to social media. This trend indicates that users today have access to a more diverse and comprehensive understanding of skincare compared to previous generations, enabling everyone to share and benefit from healthier skincare practices.

Conclusion

Social media plays a significant role in shaping body image, often in complex ways. Being aware of these impacts allows for more mindful usage. Here are some strategies to maintain a positive body image:

• Limit Social Media Use: Reducing the time spent on social platforms can help minimize exposure to unrealistic body standards.
• Seek Body-Positive Content: Follow accounts that promote body diversity and positivity.
• Focus on Strengths: Concentrate on your unique qualities and what your body can do, rather than how it looks.
• Practice Self-Care: Engage in activities that nurture your physical and mental well-being, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies you enjoy.

By implementing these practices, you can develop a healthier relationship with both social media and your body image.