Is social media driving people to get cosmetic surgery? Recent reports in the news have suggested that people are feeling pressured to have fillers and surgery in order to look like the “perfect” people they see on the likes of Instagram and Facebook and across places such as Television, Magazines, and Films.
A study by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics says government must protect people from an unregulated industry. The report also condemns makeover apps and online plastic surgery games aimed at children as young as nine.” – BBC
The report discussing the issue has claimed several factors are leading people, specifically younger generations, to get Botox and certain types of cosmetic surgery. It claimed the reasons were increasing focus on body image across media, particularly social media.
“There is a daily bombardment from advertising and through social media channels like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat that relentlessly promote unrealistic and often discriminatory messages on how people, especially girls and women, ‘should’ look.”
A Culture Focused On Looks
Sadly, we live in a society where there’s a massive focus on body image and looks. This is fuelled by celebrity culture and also being in the day and age where everything is rate-able. For example, pictures can be liked, reviewed, and commented on. People are striving to look better for more acceptance and gratification.
Every day we see airbrushed and retouched images of celebrities and figures with the “perfect” skin, teeth, and facial features. The report by Nuffield Council is saying this is causing enormous pressure on what we think we should look like.
In addition to the daily representations we see, there’s also an abundance of beauty and body apps available. Not forgetting editing apps, all of which give us the ability to change the way we look on a virtual basis. Such applications can not only give false representations of people, affecting how people see us. It can have deeper implications on mental health and our self-esteem in the real world too.
Body Image – Will It Change?
Body image and looks are something that has formed an increasingly prominent focus in the media in recent years, with the male body image becoming just as publicised and criticised as females.
A question could be asked, will society ever accept and praise individuality and different types of beauty, which could reduce such a pressure for people to look like others. It’s not so clear.
