By Pamela Mbata
Ready or not lots of things are changing. In this age, there is an exposure to every kind of information, lifestyle, culture and almost any system of doing things. One can not, but wonder and ask how positive or not it has been.
In the world of beauty and cosmetics, a tremendous change has swept through the land. Fashion keeps recycling while bringing innovative ways of doing things. Although some of what we see today has been done in the past, but new systems are emerging. For example:
- Botox and plastic surgery, which has gained popularity amongst folks allover the world.
- Advanced makeovers, women making up didn’t start today, but it is clearly advanced if you agree because more knowledge has been figured out, with the introduction of chemical based product on the counter and synthetic usage of materials.
- Taking ‘Selfies’ was not a thing before the early 2000’s but now it is so common and has been adopted as a norm for personal photography.
For women in particular, the pressure to keep up with what we see online has become a morbid cycle.
False representations and unrealistic standards
Tons of celebrities, influencers, models and brands, also use social media to sell and promote themselves by creating an image of perfection. They document their workout routines, eating habits, and other aspects of their lifestyle that contribute to the way they look. It can be all fake sometimes.
Whilst we may believe as we mindlessly scroll though such content, our subconscious is soaking it all up and before we know it, those perfectly formed bodies have become the standard by which we measure everything else.
Famous people and models on social media document their workout routines, eating habits, and other aspects of their lifestyle that contribute to the way they look. There is only one problem with this industry; it’s all fake.
Some have developed mental heath issues, identity issues and even body dysmorphia trying to emulate the beauty standards that are simply unattainable.
An Instagram model can post a picture of herself in a bikini, showing off her taut stomach, holding up a weight loss tea supplement. Her caption reveals that said supplement is the secret to her honed physique.
This alone, sends a very dangerous message to millions of her followers, the majority of whom are impressionable young women.
It is spreading the idea that supplements, diet pills and detox teas are the best way to achieve her body type, when in reality, it could not be further from the truth.
More often than not, their looks are a combination of gym, plastic surgery and a generous amount of retouching.
Her job is to look perfect and promote merchandise. This creates an unrealistic beauty standard for all of her followers who believe that this product is their ticket to a perfect body.
In reality, a perfect body does not exist. An immense amount of planning, makeup and photo editing went into the final Instagram picture she posted. It’s designed to sell a product, not support a healthy lifestyle.
This leads to low self-esteem and negative thinking towards food , body acceptance and comparisons. It is incredibly important to teach young women and men that social media is not real life.
So, social media tells us that we need to be a beautiful person in order to be worthy which could not be further from the truth.
It is incredibly important to teach young women and men that social media is not real life. Trying to emulate this types of bodies can cause physical and psychological damage.
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