Examining the Negative Influences Social Media Applications Have on Body Image

Credit: Mackenzie Smith, Terrier Times

Plastic surgery became prominent in the United States during the 1960s and

grew rapidly in popularity during the 1990s. The emergence and leisure dominance of social media applications in the 21st Century, however, significantly influenced the increase in this type of surgery among Americans.

According to a 2020 report released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Americans spent roughly $16.7 billion on cosmetic surgery in the United States before procedures were put on hold because of the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 220,000 teens, ages 13 to 19, underwent cosmetic surgery. More than 760,000 young adults, ages 20 to 29, had procedures done by plastic surgeons.

The report further states that approximately 92% of teens and young adults who received plastic surgery were female. White Americans were the race with the most cosmetic surgery procedures followed by Hispanic Americans and Black Americans. The top cosmetic surgery procedures included nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, facelift, liposuction, breast augmentation, Botox and fillers.

Findings from a 2022 study reported in the medical journal “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery” revealed that selfies on social media applications are one of the main reasons people who use this type of digital communication become motivated to undergo cosmetic surgery, especially facial procedures.

The study explains that people’s facial features often look distorted when they take selfies on their mobile phones at closer distances such as 12 to 18 inches from their faces. These distorted features include a longer-than-usual length and an uncommonly wider base of the nose. Consequently, most people whose facial features become distorted from taking selfies at shorter distances experience lower self-esteem, lower mood and body dissatisfaction. The study, however, shows that when people take selfies at 60 inches, their facial features are not distorted in pictures. Instead, the facial features in these selfies reflect their real appearances.

Most social media application users who take selfies at shorter distances, however, are comparing their distorted facial features to peers, celebrities and influencers online. Even worse, most of these peers and public figures who take selfies usually use editing tools to alter their photos before posting them on popular picture-focused social media applications such as Instagram and Snapchat. These photo editing tools include filters, lighting effects, resizing, cropping, blemish and acne removers and digital makeup applicators meant to retouch, fix, enhance or entirely change selfies and other images.

The increase in body dysmorphia among young people who compare themselves to others on social media applications is inspiring some users to join online movements that advocate for body positivity such as “Instagram vs. Reality.” Gaining traction in 2015, “Instagram vs. Reality" is when Instagram users post side-by-side images of themselves or others to compare authentic versions of the photos to idealized ones. Research shows that when young people, specifically girls and women, are exposed to this movement, their body dissatisfaction decreases.

Although body positivity movements are becoming more visible online, the most followed celebrities and influencers still shape societal beauty standards on and off social media applications. These harmful beauty standards are homogenous, as they exclude certain identities and physicality, including people of color, plus-sized bodies and disabled individuals. So, what can social media application users do to work toward redefining these beauty standards in their minds and society? Well, the first action users must take is to join online communities that embrace body positivity.

For instance, Instagram comprises different accounts of people, non-profits and brands that encourage users to love and take pride in their flawed bodies. Some of these accounts go beyond posting informative and motivational content online by partnering with mental health and body positivity organizations that are trying to reduce body dysmorphia. These inspiring accounts give me faith that body dysmorphia will eventually decline in staggering numbers among young people.