People editing their body on social media...

[Bountychocolate]

Lately, I’ve been thinking about taking a break from social media. I’m in my mid-thirties, and honestly? I constantly feel ugly. I look in the mirror and pick apart everything - my size 8 frame feels “fat” because of a few lumps or the cellulite on my legs. It's exhausting.

The other day, my partner pointed something out that really stuck with me: how much social media I consume, and the kind of people I follow. One example? Molly Mae. I’ve followed her for years and admired her style, her life, her confidence. But he made a good point - she looks noticeably different in her YouTube videos and documentary compared to her Instagram posts. And it’s true. The flawless images we scroll past every day aren’t real. They’re curated. Edited. Lit to perfection. Filtered beyond recognition.

And it’s made me ask, why? Why do women with such huge platforms feel the need to present these impossible versions of themselves? When they know they’re shaping how other women, and especially young girls, see beauty?

It’s frustrating. Disappointing. I’ve been a big Molly fan, but now I’m just… sad. Because I realise a huge part of why I’ve been feeling so inadequate stems from comparing myself to images that aren’t even real.

No wonder we feel like we’re never enough.

To keep you scrolling, they get money for followers.

Money it's always money, or power, or sex. Or combinations.

It's basically their job, they get cash, can attract a wealthier partner, they can then create more unattainable content, more cash, the cycle continues.

But he made a good point - she looks noticeably different in her YouTube videos and documentary compared to her Instagram posts. And it’s true. The flawless images we scroll past every day aren’t real. They’re curated. Edited. Lit to perfection. Filtered beyond recognition.

Why is this news to you?
Surely you were previously aware of "photoshop"?

I’d imagine it’s because they fear not doing so will have negative repercussions for their online presence. When your career is based on being an attractive female, it’s a brave woman who would deliberately draw attention to her perceived flaws. The few influencers who deliberately post content showing reality v filter images have usually built their online persona on that from the start.

I don’t really follow social media nor actively post on it, but I browse. Celebrity stuff isn’t really my thing but it’s hard to escape even when reading online newspapers or even the BBC. Women are held to impossible standards and they’re hard to escape. No one lives in a vacuum.

I am generally quite content with my body. I do a lot of exercise so am in good shape. However, even I have moments where I look in the mirror and think “if only my hips were…” Fortunately, these are very rare - possibly because I don’t do a lot of social media. Getting older also helps as you develop an appreciation simply for being here and in good health.

TLDR: Yes, ditch the social media. You’ll feel a lot better.

Before social media it was already beautiful women in magazines photoshopped into unachievable beauty.

It’s been going on for the last 40 years - you’d think we’d start teaching our children about it.

It’s because it gets them followers. It’s part of selling their brand.

We have a business that sells high end items that are sort of part of a lifestyle. Dh and I laugh all the time about how different the social media images we post are different from real life. It’s not people and there aren’t bodies even in any of the images and they aren’t photoshopped, but to sell an item it’s very much selling a vision of a lifestyle. Off camera, our kids are still fighting and we’re feeding them junk and they might be watching YouTube instead of running through wildflowers and we actually barely use the products ourselves because we’re too busy, just like other normal people.

But it’s what you do to advance a brand, which isn’t different than most other advertising really. You sell a vision and an idea.

Hi,
am I able to use this discussion in my uni assignment about how body image affects mental health. Thank you