The Effects of an Artificial Society
As a teenager myself, I have witnessed all the effects social media has had on our generation. I have had Instagram for years now, all of which I have been following Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, and many "Instagram models," as they are being called now. I used to not dwell on the impact this had on me, but now I have truly recognized the influence of following so many artificial figures. These people are mainly accepted by society due to their "ideal bodies" and "perfect faces." There isn't much else to their fame, other than their beauty! Their followers tend to set aside their personalities, and only acknowledge their modeling talents. I believe this is completely appalling!
The kids and teenagers of our generation believe that they should follow these icons due to their popularity and familiarity. Nothing bad could happen with just the click of one button, right? Wrong. When scrolling through these celebrity's Instagram feeds, they see them in practically underwear, or even naked. Do you really want your child to see that? Even if they keep scrolling, their mind is affected. They still saw that picture! The image is trapped in their brain, and they unconsciously begin to set the bar for their bodies as high as the celebrities have set it. These women that they look up to have had so much surgery that hardly any of their natural body is left. Their faces have become so altered that friends from their childhood wouldn't be able to recognize them. And to top that all off, the majority of these ladies have no morals what-so-ever.
I want to make clear the effect these phony women have on the minds of our youth. I know for a fact that I, myself, have lost so much self-confidence and love for my body due to social media. On Instagram, I see women with tiny waists, hourglass figures, slender and symmetrical faces, and gorgeous complexions. At 5'6 and 140 lbs, I am nowhere near my media's desired proportions. It advertises these figures and how they've achieved their beach bodies, which has personally caused me to attempt weight loss, despite the fact that I still have more time to grow. Some of these celebrities, such as Kylie Jenner, do not even wait until their bodies have finished developing to begin surgeries to get the "perfect look." For example, Hollywood Life claimed in early 2015, "Kylie Jenner, who’s just 17 years old, allegedly got a breast augmentation, an eyebrow lift, upper eyelid surgery, a chin implant, jaw reshaping and a nose job" (C. Rogers).
Because of social media, it has taken me a very long time to realize that I already have the perfect body, because it is mine! A few months back, I went on a mission to earn more self-confidence and appreciation for the way I was made! I unfollowed every account that painted negative pictures and thoughts in my mind. This definitely included Kylie Jenner and many other Instagram models I had looked up to for several years. Instead, I replaced them with inspirational accounts that promoted self-love and the idea that bodies should be all shapes and sizes!
Alas, I have come to the realization that my body is completely normal and it still wants to grow and develop! Although I have many so-called "flaws" on my body, I love every inch of it. I love being able to go for a swim in a cute new bikini without crossing my arms over my slightly round stomach. Of course, I am striving to become fitter so I can feel more comfortable in my own skin, but I have learned to embrace every curve and stretch mark on my body, despite what others may think.
I hope that anyone reading this realizes the long-term effects social media stars have on our physical, emotional, and social well-being. I have become a much stronger and outgoing person, simply because I have found better role-models! You may think that this is just some cliché article, but I sincerely stand with what I have written. In conclusion, the social media and television personalities you may idolize are probably artificial and immoral people. Start loving genuine people. Start loving yourself.
