The Negative Impact of Social Media
Social media has a lasting, negative impact on people in our society.
By Arleigh Martinez
Social media has become an integral part of our modern society and as a result of that, it has been negatively impacting the public. As people continue to consume various social media platforms, it can be easy for one's self confidence to excessively decline. Users on social media often create idealized versions of themselves which leads to unrealistic expectations of their viability.
Women are the most targeted in the media when it comes to obtaining a certain look. When a woman's Instagram feed is constantly flooded with unrealistic standards, she starts to internalize the notion that she must conform to these standards in order to feel beautiful. According to the National Library of Medicine, the consumption of social media can lead to body dysmorphia and a decline in women's confidence.
Media platforms such as Instagram can be misleading to young girls especially with apps like Facetune where one can alter their appearance in a matter of seconds. Beauty, in this day and age, no longer equates to personality or the unique quirks that one might have. Individuals are now prone to judge beauty solely on external appearance.
The criteria has been set to have a small waist, big lips and a thigh gap. Alongside with many other unattainable beauty standards. According to the standards the media has set, women should have a small waist and an hourglass figure because without it, women are deemed undesirable.
In reality a “big butt” generally comes with some degree of cellulite, yet that is almost never shown in the media. Full and voluminous lips are often achieved by injectables. People do not have the baby smooth skin because skin is meant to be textured. It is human nature to have acne on the skin and stretch marks on the waist.
In various cultures, there is a contradictory desire for either a slender physique or a more voluptuous figure. Women may find it challenging to maintain confidence when they witness the on-going changes of beauty ideals.
What is considered beautiful in the U.S is also far different from what people consider beautiful in other parts of the world. Beauty is subjective and there should be no need to alter appearances because the media says women have to look a certain way. Love what your body does for you rather than how it looks.