The world has become increasingly digitalized since the advent of technological advancements. The internet is now omnipresent, with billions of people connected to it every day via their smartphones, tablets, laptops, PCs, etc. This connectivity allows for an almost infinite amount of information to be transmitted across borders, cultures, and languages in seconds. It also facilitates communication between individuals who may have never met otherwise. While this is an advantageous development in some respects, there are downsides too. Digital media's influence on society's beauty standards can be detrimental to self-commodification and identity construction.
Let's look at how the term 'beauty standard' applies to digital media. In general terms, beauty standards refer to what is considered beautiful within a particular culture or group of people. These can vary significantly from one another but often encompass physical attributes such as height, weight, skin color, body shape, facial features, and hair texture.
In certain countries, being tall, fair-skinned, and slender is regarded positively while in others being short, dark, and curvy is preferable. Similarly, in some communities, having big breasts and hips is considered more attractive than having small ones, and vice versa. Digital media's influence on these preferences varies wildly depending on which platform you use. Social media platforms like Instagram showcase heavily edited images that promote certain ideals over others.
Influencers with large followings tend to be young women with plastic surgery, makeup, and photoshop edits. Consequently, viewers may develop unrealistic expectations about their bodies and faces because they see these photos all day long.
Social media sites encourage users to monetize themselves through likes, comments, shares, and subscriptions. This creates an atmosphere where individuals feel pressured into presenting themselves online as perfect specimens who fit into those exacting standards discussed above. As a result, it becomes difficult for people to express their true selves due to this external pressure placed upon them by outside forces.
Advertisements saturate the internet, making it challenging not to compare yourself with others based on appearance. If we continue to consume content that presents unattainable ideals, we will continue to fall victim to self-commodification and identity construction issues brought about by digital media.
The implications of this are far-reaching, impacting everything from mental health and body image to relationships and intimacy levels. Many studies have shown how the constant bombardment of such imagery affects individuals negatively, leading to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, eating disorders, etc. It also makes them feel less confident in their romantic relationships since they're always comparing themselves to other partners featured prominently across digital spaces.
Beauty standards enforced through digital media influence self-commodification and identity construction adversely. By changing our perceptions of what is beautiful or desirable, we lose sight of authenticity, leading us down paths that don't benefit us physically, emotionally, or mentally. We must be vigilant in counteracting these influences by taking breaks from technology or using filters/apps like Facetune that reverse this trend.
How do beauty standards enforced through digital media influence self-commodification and identity construction?
In this era of social media, people are constantly bombarded with images of highly attractive individuals on their screens. Such idealized representations of perfection have been found to influence one's sense of self-worth and body image. Many studies indicate that individuals who regularly view such imagery tend to develop negative feelings towards themselves and may even engage in harmful behaviors like eating disorders, excessive dieting, and cosmetic surgery.