Sometimes, a natural question might arise: Is the work by ‘Instagram vs. Reality’ even worth it? Perhaps the folks they’re after should just be left to their own devices? However, before each of us comes up with our own answer, it’s worth considering the impact they have on society.
Researchers from Boston University discovered a link between social media use and cosmetic procedures, associating greater time spent on the apps and the use of photo-editing software with appearance dissatisfaction and a desire to change physical features.
The number of participants considering aesthetic procedures increased from 64% to 86%, and those seeking a consultation with a surgeon rose from 44% to 68%, according to the study.
Meanwhile, post-COVID, approximately 78% of volunteers said getting a procedure would boost their self-esteem—that was 30% more than pre-pandemic.
“However, the filter effects and extensive photo manipulation often create images that are physically unattainable,” the authors of the study wrote.
The Boston University researchers speculate that the distorted body image associated with “selfie culture” spurred an increase in aesthetic procedures during the pandemic, when screen time skyrocketed.
In 2019, an estimated 3.5 billion people used social media applications and spent upwards of 6.3 hours online, per the report.
#10 Heavy Photoshopping
The researchers found that frequent use of social media platforms, such as Instagram or Snapchat, and photo-editing apps, such as Lightroom or FaceTune, was associated with increased body image dissatisfaction, while following celebrities, influencers, and accounts showcasing the results of cosmetic procedures increased users’ desire for aesthetic treatments.
“While there are many factors that likely contribute to this, social media usage did likely increase the desire, amongst a subset of patients, to seek cosmetic procedures,” the team wrote.
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While these findings sound somewhat intuitive, it’s important to repeat them until we fully understand the scope of the issue. Maybe then we’ll find it easier to just... walk away.
According to a study from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, halving the time spent on social media “significantly” improved some teenagers’ and young adults’ body image within mere weeks.
For this study, scientists chose 220 students between the ages of 17 and 25 who were on social media apps for at least two hours a day and displayed signs of anxiety or depression.
The participants were first asked to rate, on a scale of 1 to 5, how they felt about their looks. They were also asked to answer questions like “I’m pretty happy about the way I look” and “I am satisfied with my weight” on a scale from “never” to “always.”
After the first week, half of the participants’ social media time was cut to 60 minutes per day; the other half continued scrolling for an average of 188 minutes daily.
