Smoothed out blemishes, whitewashed skin, and trimmed down waists. How much of our social media feeds are even real?
Changing the way we look in an effort to conform with societal norms, or even just to feel better about ourselves, is hardly a new concept. However, in the current age of Photoshop and Snapchat filters, there is an increasing range of ways to change the way we look online.
Editing photos can be fun. What's the harm in giving yourself some cat ears before messaging your Snapchat group? Or saving time on a fake tan by simply choosing a certain filter on Instagram? But these filters often do more than just make us look slightly cartoonish or improving the lighting. It was only recently that it was brought to my attention how much these effects actually alter our appearance.
From giving us a flawless complexion to extending the length of our lashes, we become an unrealistic version of ourselves.
However, the main dangers of edited photos come about when they are used by celebrities, especially those with a younger audience. Younger followers are the most at risk, as they are less likely to be able to decipher between real and fake images.
The use of Photoshop and selective angles not only creates unrealistic body goals for others but also subtly highlights certain body traits as being "problematic." For example, if someone uses the "airbrush" feature to remove signs of scars from their body - which people close to them in real life no doubt know they have - it creates the message that their scar is a negative mark and one which needs to be hidden. In turn, this says to others that perhaps they need to do the same. It is no surprise that the more individuals are exposed to unrealistic body ideals, the more likely they are to edit their own photos, creating a vicious circle.
Something which has become almost a new trend in itself - especially on Instagram - is the hashtag #instavsreality. This is where people post a photo they've posted on Instagram and manipulated in some way next to the original unedited photo. Perhaps they haven't removed noticeable cellulite or scars or acne. It's a really important movement which has undoubtedly started a conversation about photo editing and body image. However, this trend is yet to reach mainstream celebrities with big accounts and young audiences.
In the "internet bubble", there are two roles: creator and consumer. When scrolling through the endless selfies online, acting as the audience, remember that what people share online is only a portion of their lives. It's what they have chosen to share and how they have chosen to project themselves. For any creators reading, remember your followers often don’t know any different. Your audience won’t necessarily know you selectively edit things out.
It's normal to be self-conscious about what we post online. But if you're using Photoshop or filters, be transparent.
Tell your audience. Or better yet, don't edit your photos at all. Accept your looks and work on healing the part of yourself that doesn't.
By Shannon Jones
Image courtesy of Cristian Dina via Pexels
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