In today’s day and age, social media has a profound effect on how we view ourselves and the world around us. From makeup to, hairstyle, clothing choices, and even facial expression, social media has shaped our collective perception of beauty.
With an endless stream of videos and photos at our fingertips, it comes as no surprise that we are constantly shifting our definition of what is beautiful and what isn’t. Especially in the last few years, standards have changed dramatically, leading to confusion and anxiety for many people who feel as though they must do everything they can to keep up with trends.
Changing Beauty Standards
One of the ways that social media has changed beauty standards is through the promotion of certain hairstyles, clothing choices, and makeup combinations. Celebrities and influencers alike set the bar for the trendiest fashions and inspire their audiences to follow in their footsteps. For this reason, certain fashions and beauty products have seen a major rise. It makes sense—people want to look just as good as the gorgeous people they see online!
The Lengths We’ll Go to Look Great
Social media also influences how far people are willing to go to look their best. For example, some choose to invest in procedures like a facelift to bring out their best features and maintain a youthful appearance. These options can dramatically improve self-esteem.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine whether these treatments are the right fit. It’s all a part of your journey toward looking the way you want to!
What Can We Do?
So, what can we do to navigate so many changing beauty standards? And what can we do to avoid falling into the trap of comparing ourselves to other people, whether online or in person?
Practice Self-Love
Practicing self-love and personal acceptance is a crucial part of keeping up with modern beauty standards. By focusing on our unique values, strengths, and weaknesses, we can build a stronger sense of confidence. Instead of striving for perfection, we should instead embrace our flaws and imperfections. After all, they’re what make us human!
In essence, this means that we should always take care of ourselves, whether it be physically or mentally, and always recognize the beauty that lives within us. Everyone has something to offer!
Limit Social Media Usage
Limiting your time on social media can be a surprisingly effective way to lessen the negative impacts it has on your self-esteem. You can set a specific amount of time to scroll through your feeds, then stay off for the rest of the day. Limiting your screen time reduces the amount of time you spend comparing yourself to other people, and helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed.
In short, staying away from social media for most of the day makes it that much easier to prioritize self-love!
Follow Body-Positive Accounts
Another way to counteract the negative effects of social media is to follow accounts that promote positive body image. These accounts are designed to encourage men and women to embrace their unique qualities instead of comparing themselves to others. The best of these accounts showcases diverse bodies, abilities, and appearances, and provide space for individuals to love themselves just as they are. Following these accounts ensures that you surround yourself with an uplifting community, which is extremely important for maintaining a better self-image. There is no reason to bombard yourself with unrealistic beauty standards—you should strive for a healthier relationship with your body and mind!
To summarize, social media has had a serious impact on our perceptions of beauty. It’s important to remember, though, that these standards are constantly changing, and that the images we see online are often unrealistic. By focusing on our personal strengths, surrounding ourselves with positive people, and finding a balance between our time on social media and other activities, we can avoid falling into the trap of comparing ourselves to others and develop a healthier sense of self-esteem.
Angela Spearman is a journalist at EzineMark who enjoys writing about the latest trending technology and business news.
