Recently, we almost can’t imagine a day without scrolling through different platforms of social media. We get caught up in looking at pristinely curated posts which feature perfectly shaped bodies, made up faces and airbrush-enhanced pictures. In the realm of digital platforms, beauty is all around us. But how exactly does social media shape our perceptions of beauty?
1. Exploring the Power of Social Media in Beauty
The power of social media is undeniable – it’s having a huge impact on the beauty and cosmetics industry! From makeup tutorials to skincare advice, platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are enabling people to connect with professionals, influencers, and other passionate individuals within this realm. Here are just a few ways this medium has started to revolutionize the beauty game:
- Education – Browsing through Instagram, YouTube, and even Twitter, one can find an abundance of accounts by talented beauty and makeup artists that focus on educating their followers. They’re able to show step-by-step tutorials and provide useful information about the products they use and how to get the looks they create.
- Insight – With the help of social media, companies now have direct communication with their customers and can receive feedback about their products. This allows beauty brands to gauge how their items are being received, and arms them with invaluable insight to influence the creation of new products.
- Reach – Now, beauty and makeup artists from all over the world are able to build a large following on social media and have the opportunity to monetize these platforms. This has leveled the playing field in a way we’ve never seen before. Anyone with talent and a smartphone has the capacity to achieve success.
- Trends – Seeing what people are using, engaging with, and talking about in the beauty sphere is now easier than ever. Beauty brands are monitoring conversations to stay on top of trends and build up a presence in the industry.
Clearly, social media is having an immense effect on the beauty and cosmetics sector. With more platforms emerging every day, its influence on this market is sure to become stronger and help to further shape our industry.
2. The Effects of Digital Platforms on Beauty Ideals
The rise of digital communication platforms in the 21st century has drastically changed the way people perceive beauty ideals. Social media, websites, and even video games have become outlets for displaying the “ideal” body type, look, or lifestyle. Here are some of :
- Unrealistic Role Models – Social media celebrities – whose images have been filtered, photo-shopped, and otherwise digitally altered – set an unrealistic standard for beauty.
- Unachievable Standards – From the “perfect” hair to the “perfect” makeup routine, the standards presented on many digital platforms are often unachievable and can be damaging to people who cannot attain them.
- One-Sided Perspectives – The beauty ideals presented on digital platforms are often based on one demographic or perspective, narrowing the definition of beauty to a few narrow standards.
The pressure to conform to a certain body type, color, or skin type is immense, resulting in toxic body shaming, bullying, and other forms of discrimination. Those who view these images often develop an unattainable view of their own appearance, leading to low self-esteem and a dissatisfaction with their physical appearance.
The desire to be beautiful and attractive has always been a part of human culture, but the ubiquity and global reach of digital communication has widened and distorted our view of beauty. Ads, social media images, and even video games are shaping people’s perception of beauty, creating a sense of perfection that is often difficult to attain. It is up to us, as users of digital platforms, to recognize the potential damage of these standards and strive to create a more positive vision of beauty.
3. Visual Faux Pas: Uncovering the Dark Side of Beauty on Social Media
In the quest for digital perfection, where beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and how we are perceived on social media has become the bar for many, it’s no wonder so many feel the pressure to live up to unrealistic standards. But this pressure has brought some major “visual faux pas” to the forefront of social media, resulting in unrealistic ideals that may cause negative mental health issues.
Recently, social media influencers have become the new beauty model, making it even more difficult for everyday people to keep up with. Instagram and other platforms are sources of idealized images that lead to negative ideals about beauty, weight, and lifestyle.
These images are often seen in hashtags such as #perfect, #fitness, #thinspiration, #beauty, and #instagood. Without proper context, these seemingly positive hashtags can have negative consequences for people who are considered “less than perfect”. It’s important to recognize that many of the images posted are usually staged, used with filters, edited or airbrushed to the point of impossibly.
- It’s not healthy, physically or mentally, to attempt to reach these standards.
- Fulfillment and success should be based on personal goals, not how many likes and followers someone has.
- No matter what, staying true to oneself is the only way to achieve true beauty.
In the end, it’s always important to remember that true beauty comes from within. Celebrate the beauty of all individuals, not just those approved by the internet. Know that the images seen on the internet are often staged and don’t reflect realities. It is possible to be body positive and be seen as truly beautiful within the internet’s scope.
4. How to Counteract the Toxins of Negative Beauty Ideology and Create Positive Body Image
As individuals, it’s easy to get lost in a negative, harmful dialogue about our own or other’s beauty. To counter this, start small by re-focusing our conversations from just appearances to the beauty of shared experiences. By shifting the focus off outward appearances, it opens the conversation up to deeper and more meaningful interactions. It gives us space to appreciate our body for all it has enabled us to do and more than our looks.
This is the perfect opportunity to start embracing the concept of “body neutrality” – allowing yourself to have an unbiased view of your body and the abilities of our body, regardless of physical form or size. Practicing self-love, and focusing on your own opinions on beauty, encourages you to form a positive opinion about your own body and accept what makes you different.
Here are a few ways we can develop a healthy body image and counteract the influence of our negative beauty ideology:
- Acknowledge that everything you see in the media is likely airbrushed and doesn’t reflect reality. Instead of aiming to match unrealistic body ideals, focus on cultivating self-love and being kind to yourself.
- Accept your body and remind yourself that beauty comes in many sizes. Remember that everyone is unique, and the things that make you special are independent of your body size.
- Focus on the things your body can do and aim to unlock its potential. We are capable of great things, and our bodies should be celebrated for their abilities, not their looks.
These practices should be part of a larger lifestyle overhaul to promote overall physical and mental wellness. Making physical and mental health a priority helps you to gain body trust and respond affirmatively to body compliments. You also learn to recognize constructive criticism and challenge and respond to negative beliefs about your body that might arise.
The digital space offers an opportunity to celebrate beauty and raise awareness of the diversity of beauty standards. With an ever-growing presence of social media, we must continue to consider how digital platforms can contribute to creating a culture of beauty that respects all definitions and shapes of beauty equally. After all, beauty should be something we can all appreciate.
