In the year 2021, it is easier than ever to alter your appearance in a few seconds through several incredibly accessible applications available on any smartphone. With one simple click, you can erase any blemish or enhance your features. According to an article by Abigail Fagan provided by Psychology Today, physicians that work at the aesthetic edge report that photo manipulation is driving clients to alter their appearance completely. Cosmetic enhancement has surged in recent years, and the number of minimally invasive surgeries has tripled between 2000 to 2018. British plastic surgeon Tijion Esho and her colleagues declared in JAMA Plastic Facial Surgery that selfies and photo-editing had brought up new beauty standards.
Body dysmorphia is rampant in young people due to the unrealistic beauty standards, over which society and scholars have been grappling with for several decades. But what makes photo editing any different? In the past, celebrities pushed the image of the perfect look. In our minds, this is easier to rationalize due to the fact that superstars seem so far removed from everyday people. You most likely are aware that those in the public eye follow a strict diet, workout regime, and have a whole team whose jobs are to enhance appearance. The issue has now become that editing apps are pushing that same unrealistic beauty standard, except now it is coming from your friends, coworkers, and classmates.
Social media has become an endless montage of perfectly edited faces and bodies, and consuming this content takes both your time and energy. An article published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders discovered that the more adolescent girls engaged in photo-editing, the more they worried about their body and dieting. Those that find themselves editing their appearance then become hyper aware of the mismatch of reality and social media, which increases body dissatisfaction. New observations and research has shown that photo-editing may be putting vulnerable people at a higher risk for body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).
People with body dysmorphic disorder tend to obsess about an imagined or real physical flaw that others most likely would not ever notice. They constantly monitor the perceived flaw, and it is regularly on their mind. But the question is: Does photo editing cause BDD? Honestly, it is too complex of a subject to know for sure. There are many factors that may contribute to the development of the disorder such as certain personality traits, an example being rejection sensitivity and perfectionism, as well as genetic factors. However, the propagated perfect face and body shown to young people every day has also become a noticeable factor in the development of this disorder in recent years.
In this day and age, it is important to protect yourself by maintaining a healthy body image, and there are many ways to do this. First, educate yourself about unrealistic beauty standards. Remember all the steps taken before most images you see on social media make it to your feed. It is also crucial to retrain the way you look at yourself in the mirror. Those with BDD zoom in on one feature they are dissatisfied with, which warps perception greatly. Try to observe yourself objectively, and avoid harsh or judgmental words. Next, identify your unhelpful thought patterns and try to think what you would say to a friend instead of yourself. Lastly, and possibly most importantly, take breaks from social media. The internet can be extremely entertaining and informative, but try to take extended breaks when possible to remind yourself of reality and what actually matters to you.