OPINION|Body Dysmorphia In the Digital Era

ANTHEAlogical Standpoint

Anthea Reformado

Body Dysmorphia In The Digital Era

Our society has changed, and body image is one area that has changed the most. With social media, the world seems to hold a sudden shift in how we see ourselves. Social media usage has increased over the past decade, with more teens using these sites than ever. As a result, the youth’s impression of themselves is generally influenced by what they see on social media.

Social media platforms are a significant source of social comparison, provoking teens’ feelings of inadequacy. People have a predetermined expectation of how they should seem in society in the digital era. In order to appease oneself and gain the likes and shares of followers on social media, people now frequently misrepresent their appearance.

First, social media didn't create artificial beauty standards; nonetheless, it has helped them persist. People that adhere to these particular beauty standards are the most well-liked and well-received, which may contribute to the cultural ideal that everyone should look a specific way.

Consequently, social media significantly impacts body image and dysmorphia due to the number of time users spend there. In the endlessly content-rich digital age, everyone aspires to the "perfect" style to gain likes and followers.

To do this, people edit and apply filters to photos to give the impression of phony perfection. For instance, Instagram offers a ton of free filters to change how you look. Additionally, you may use programs like Photoshop and Lightroom to alter your body size and skin tone. If you just see someone on social media, it could be hard to tell if they've changed how they seem. You are just viewing a stunning, two-dimensional representation of someone's apparently flawless style.

You then start thinking about if you should alter your looks because you see their appearance drawing a lot of attention. As a result, there may be a discrepancy between how someone actually appears and how they perceive themselves.

However, I think social media might bring obsessive concerns about looks in those with body dysmorphia. The abundance of "beautiful" pictures in their feed may serve as a continual reminder of their perceived imperfections. This may trigger obsessive behavior in an effort to fix the problem. This is not to suggest that social media directly causes body dysmorphia, but it might exacerbate it.

Imagine gazing in the mirror and seeing an ugly, malformed version of yourself. You strive to apply your makeup for hours each day. You check yourself in the mirror frequently to see if you appear alright. You're afraid to leave your house since you don't want people to criticize and make fun of you. You're feeling hopeless and despondent. Many people who suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) constantly live with this agonizing reality. There is a need to raise awareness about body dysmorphic disorder. People with BDD should not be viewed as overly self-conscious persons but rather as people who suffer from a terrible condition that keeps them in a continual state of worry and anxiety and can have fatal results if left untreated.

I believe that there is something that we can do about this kind of concern. There are things you can do if you don't have body dysmorphia but are worried about someone who does. You may start by educating yourself on the problem.

You may then communicate with them from a place of empathy and comprehension. Following that, you may aid them by being there for them and providing resources so they can obtain assistance.

In general, I think that you can contribute by being careful with what you put online. Be genuine in how you present yourself online if you want to support a body-positive culture.

Social media might affect your body image even if you don't have body dysmorphia. Choose your followers wisely to avoid succumbing to the ideal of "perfection" in aesthetics. This digital era has great help for this allows us to interact with other people and learn from others. Thus, it can also be seen in a good way. Change your feed with that goal in mind to have more satisfying encounters.