Social media makes people doubt their beauty/freepik
Forget makeup – social media divas are constantly changing their facial features to look like they have a permanent filter on them. This is evidenced by the data of a new study.
Researchers from Boston University found a connection between the use of social networks and cosmetic procedures, linking more time spent in applications and photo editing programs with dissatisfaction with appearance and the desire to change physical features, writes the New York Post.
< p>As a result of the “selfie culture” users developed “Snapchat dysmorphia”, and began to look for procedures to copy filtered images of themselves.
According to the study, the number of participants , which considered the possibility of aesthetic procedures, increased from 64% to 86%, and those who sought consultation from a surgeon – from 44% to 68%.
Meanwhile, after COVID-19 about 78% of volunteers said that the procedure would increase their self-esteem – this is 30% more than before the pandemic.
However, filter effects and a large number of photos often create images that which are physically unattainable,
– write the authors of the study.
Previous research has demonstrated the influence of social media on teenagers, suggesting a link between Internet use and poor body image. Last year, the surgeon general warned about the impact of such platforms on teenagers, as concerned parents say the popular social apps have pushed their children to commit suicide or develop eating disorders.
Boston University researchers suggest that distorted body image related to “selfie culture” has led to an increase in cosmetic procedures during the pandemic, when screen time has skyrocketed. In 2019, an estimated 3.5 billion people used social media apps and spent more than 6.3 hours online, the report said.
“Despite the fact that attention to cosmetics has increased during the COVID pandemic, until now there was no data that would indicate a clear relationship or factors that increased or decreased the likelihood of patients participating in cosmetic procedures,” – notes the author of the study, Dr. Neelam Vashi, Associate Professor of the Department of Dermatology at the University.
People want to resemble their photoshopped idols/Photo by wayhomestudio
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, surveyed 175 participants aged 18 and over from 2019 to 2021. Volunteers filled out a questionnaire about how they use social networks, how they feel about cosmetic procedures and whether they would go under the knife.
The research team found that frequent use of social networks, such as Instagram or Snapchat, and photo editing applications such as Lightroom or FaceTune, is related to increased body dissatisfaction. At the same time, following celebrities, influencers, and accounts showcasing the results of cosmetic procedures online has influenced users' willingness to undergo aesthetic procedures.
Although there are many factors that likely , contribute to this, the use of social networks probably increased the desire of a certain part of patients to apply for cosmetic procedures,
– write the authors of the study.
The results of the study prompted the authors to call on doctors to discuss with patients the issue of using the Internet.
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