Social Media And How It Affects Teens Today

You will see screens everywhere you turn. Social media will always be a part of our lives. It is clear that social media has improved people’s everyday lives. However, social media doesn’t help teens with their body image. Social media is a major cause of body image problems among teens today. Social media can be a major influence on body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and other conditions that affect body image. Facetune, Snapchat and other new apps create a new standard of beauty that is unrealistic and often unattainable (Willingham). The stigma attached to these apps, filters and other tools is that people need perfect skin and bodies. In a set of recent statistics released by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgery, 55% of the facial plastic surgeons surveyed reported that they saw patients in 2017 who wanted to enhance their selfies. This was a 13% rise over the year before (Willingham). Teenagers live at a time when social media can have a major impact on them. In order to feel like they belong, and fit in with their peers, teens often think that these beauty standards are necessary. In a study by Brian Feinstein and others, 268 adults of college age were studied. They found that as people spend more time on social media posting selfies, they lose self-esteem and become more critical about themselves. Social media and manipulated photos have made teens more critical of themselves and their bodies. The confidence problems that young men face today are similar, but at a different level. Girls who have body image issues are given the opportunity to share their experiences and become more confident with hashtags such as #DareToWear or #realgirl. Young men are however forced into toxic masculinity. They are also not allowed to discuss their issues. Jamie Jewitt is a 24-year old model for Dolce & Gabbana. She also models for Tom Ford. Many men are told they cannot show their weaknesses or that problems with the body make them less manly. Henry Rogers (a Calvin Klein 22-year-old model) said that he had insecurities because he had been bullied and lacked support when it happened. He said that as a male, he should laugh it off and get over it (Conway). Men are expected to be masculine and have perfect physiques. They do not give a damn about the negative emotional effects of toxic masculinity. Teenagers have to constantly analyze their appearance when they use their phones. People are able to see so much of themselves on social media that they often criticize their peers to the point that they become dissatisfied. On social media, people constantly compare themselves with others. This can lead to depression and eating disorder due to jealousy. The fisheye effect can be created by phone cameras, even though they have advanced. A 2018 study from Jama Facial Plastic Surgery showed that selfies can make the nose appear 30 percent larger than it is. Filters and editing can make photos look inaccurate, but even the camera’s own lens can affect your appearance. In 2018, 72% of American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons reported that they saw more patients aged under 30 than in previous years (Hamrah). The age group that is most active on Facebook and the least satisfied with their looks seems to be this one. Plastic surgery is more popular among teens who are unhappy with their appearance. The rise of teens undergoing cosmetic surgery is a result of the increase in body-image issues. Cosmetic surgery is a result of social media trends. Teens are now under great pressure to appear like the most recent top model. Many will do whatever it takes to achieve their goal. Teenagers may want to look like certain celebrities, even when their facial structures don’t match. When teens idolize altered photos to the point where they want facial reconstructions, this can feed illnesses such as BDD. JAMA classified Body Dysmorphic Disorder as an obsessive compulsive type disorder.

The Journal of the American Medical Association. Many people with this disorder seek plastic surgeons or dermatologists in order to fix an apparent imperfection. Even if there is no such imperfection (Willingham). Social media is a major influence on those with body dysmorphic condition. They will also seek out cosmetic surgeons if they are offered the chance. Dr. Patrick Byrne said people with BDD have a “habitual repetitive brain pattern”. You’re not doing anyone any good by making them look better. You could be harming them if you feed their obsession. In contrast, plastic surgery has the potential to improve people’s lives. These procedures are not always done out of vanity. Sometimes they are done to improve the quality of life for the person. Reconstructive Surgery can help burn victims and survivors of cancer live better lives. Sophie, breast cancer patient who underwent breast enhancement, said “Having options gave me the feeling that I was in control of my own body during a period when everything else around me spiraled out of control.” Plastic surgery can be helpful in these cases. It can ease a cancer-survivor’s fear of social interaction and allow them to reintegrate themselves into society. Social media has a major influence on teens’ body image. Social media is a problem for both men and women, as they are both affected by different social standards. Teenagers can turn to cosmetic surgery as they grow older and are faced with more unrealistic standards. While cosmetic surgery is known to exacerbate mental illnesses, the line between reconstructive and aesthetic surgery is thin. Reconstructive surgery, on the other hand, can improve the lives of trauma victims. Social media’s influence on youth will continue growing.