Instagram filters — a one-way ticket to body dysmorphia?
Is social media fuelling self-love for self-hate?
Most of us, if not all of us, have used a filter or two at some point. Whether it be to make you look a tiny bit more sun-kissed, make the background brighter, or simply an edgy black and white theme to fit in with your feed. As shown in the image above, these pictures were taken seconds apart, but the filtered one has enhanced my face to fit in with today’s beauty standards. All of a sudden, the game has changed — every social media user now has access to alter the way they look almost to the point where they’re unrecognisable.
Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of using an Instagram filter from time to time, and on the surface, it seems innocuous. Why wouldn’t I use a filter which makes my skin smoother, eyes brighter, and gives me a healthy glow? It seems like the obvious choice, but is it slowly causing mental health problems that we’re not directly aware of? It has been shown that an excessive time is spent looking at filtered versions of yourself can adversely affect your mood, sleep, and can have a direct connection to mental health problems such as body dysmorphia and anxiety. We may not recognise this in day-to-day life, but experts say it plays a subconscious role in self-esteem and confidence.
But, I completely get it. Why put on a full-face of makeup if you can simply use an Instagram filter which does the same thing, only better? They’ll tan you, smooth over any possible blemish or hint of a spot, they’ll make your nose smaller and your lips bigger- they’ll even give you an eyelash extension and a brow lamination — all of these being things people spend massive amounts of money on. It may seem harmless when you first hear about it, but in my opinion, it is detrimental to our mental health and body image — especially for our younger generations.
These unrealistic body aspirations and self-consciousness used to stem from a whirlwind of constant exposure to overedited pics on your favourite influencer’s Instagram, which we could control through choosing what we consume online. But now, this exposure is somewhat unavoidable and can lead us to ask — well, why don’t I look like this? These filters give an unrealistic and warped view of what society deems as “conventionally attractive”, ultimately harming our youngest of social media users as they have this notion that they have to look like this to reach society’s impossible standards of beauty.
I, like a lot of people my age, have had this constant thought of “I need to get lip fillers” or “I hate the shape of my nose, I must get work done”. Now, I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with this — but it does make me wonder if my sudden need for plastic surgery is coming from an unhealthy place of trying to meet society’s standards. Don’t get me wrong, I know plenty of beautiful girls and boys who have had procedures like lip enhancements and are now more confident in themselves, and for that, I salute you. But I’m not sure if the call for face augmentations is coming from a place of self-love or self-hate, and it is so embedded in my mind that I now find it hard to differentiate between the two.
In modern-day western society, screen time is on the rise and Instagram is not the only culprit for filters — popular platforms Snapchat and Tiktok also have filters, and these platforms are particularly aimed at pre-teens and the most vulnerable in our society. One of the biggest issues with these filters is that they are often beautifying Euro-centric features, which may make users from ethnic minorities feel disheartened and not good enough — when we know that this isn’t the case at all.
It’s easy enough for me to tell you to embrace the way you look, but as a 21-year-old female, I know that this isn’t straightforward. The standards of beauty in this day and age can be brutal, and can easily bring down the most confident of people on a daily basis. Just remember: not everything you see on social media is real — that influencer you aspire to be? All of their pictures have been edited. The girl who always looks flawless on her Insta story? That is a filter to hide her insecurities. Surround yourself with body-positive people, ones that promote that natural beauty is just as valid as those who have been edited. If you feel more confident using a filter, then use a filter, God knows we all do it. Just please make sure you’re checking in on yourself and your mental health. That way, you’re more likely to start taking a positive view of yourself and the world around you, too.
