From fashion trends to personality traits, even down to how we eat, social media controls everything. In the 21stcentury, social media has been embedded in our society to such an extent that it is now slowly becoming impossible to function without it. Since the post-industrialisation aesthetic movement in the 19th century, the appearance of oneself has never been as significant as it is now. Although the beauty standards between then and now are of stark contrast, they are just as prevalent in the modern day.
In some ways social media is the future, in others it is the past. I believe that some forms of social media can be considered as the omnipotent arm holding up the patriarchy. The male gaze is overly internalised in our behaviour. Our perception of beauty in this world will never be sanitised from it, so regardless of your sexuality, or who you want to impress, your version of what is ‘correct’ and what is ‘beautiful’ is never truly yours.
Depending on which pipeline social media has led you through, your perception of ‘beauty’ will probably consist of an hourglass figure, straight teeth, and clear skin. You may even find yourself criticising your appearance for not resembling the ‘ideal’. On social media we create a façade, a shadow, of who we really are. The happier, healthier, prettier version of ourselves. When you think about it, our value is determined by numbers on a screen and words on a page.
This sickness runs so deep that there has been a rampant influx of cosmetic procedures being made available in recent years. One procedure that thousands of women have been getting is the Brazilian Butt-Lift (BBL). This surgery is designed to emulate the ‘Kim Kardashian hourglass figure’ by transferring fat from one location of the body to another. But this is extremely dangerous; around 1 in 5,000 women die in BBL surgery. Although it could be argued that it is done to make people more confident, we must ask why letting someone rip one’s body apart and mould it back together is something that will achieve happiness.
Have you ever wondered why the shape of womens’ bodies have become trends throughout the years? Major corporations manipulate consumers by profiting off ideologies that perpetuate the male gaze. Businesses promote their products to achieve the unachievable ‘body goals of the century’ and much more. But now, it is social media that is being used as a weapon for corporations to deploy their products through photoshopped ‘Instagram influencers’ and capitalise on our insecurities. They ruin individuality by creating an ideal image that we ‘should’ all desire to be.
Therefore, we should start to love ourselves, the most natural, raw, and authentic version. In the present day this is the best thing you can do for yourself, mentally and physically. Although it is easier said than done, you can take small steps towards this. Use social media! But use it healthily.
