Why are we so drawn to Instagram models and influencers if we know they promote unrealistic expectations?
The world of social media, though daunting, has successfully infiltrated the lives of many young teens and, for the most part, scrolling through such social apps has become part of a daily routine. Though social media is extremely effective at keeping us only one click away from our friends, family and loved ones, it’s negatives have been made apparent for some time now. Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of social media apps such as Instagram and tiktok, is the unrealistic standards that they promote, especially to young, impressionable teenagers. Five minutes of scrolling through Instagram is enough to be inundated with photoshopped facades and profile after profile of someone’s very own ‘pre-meditated’ exterior which they present to the rest of the world. It is easy, amidst all of this, to forget that these are merely the best bits of someone’s life and thus gives the impression that the rest of the world live in an idyllic movie world separate to the reality we feel trapped in.
The role of influencers and Instagram models can be particularly damaging. They seem to represent an ideal life: sponsored holidays, perfect bodies and natural, unfiltered faces. The money that has gone into creating this image, however, is often concealed. The quixotic beauty standards that are so intensely bolstered by these apps are simply unattainable and, in many cases, encourage young teens to actively spend their money on beautifying themselves. Hair extensions, eyelash extensions, brow shaping, fake nails, fake tans, waxing, grooming and etc all subconsciously scream the message that our natural selves, aren’t good enough. We know this however, yet we are somehow still drawn to getting such little touch ups. Only to make ourselves feel better or to treat ourselves we say.
Teens, like myself, are unknowingly under constant pressure to live up to images such as these which we are actively consuming every day. Amidst all this desire for the perfect ‘instagrammable life’, apps such as these have become breeding grounds of hate and toxicity. Those who do experience the spotlight on such platforms also suffer scrutiny to maintain their social image and are fully aware that one bad photo caught of them will be posted and slated by others. The opportunity for criticism seems inescapable. What is most upsetting about this however is how it influences young people. The hateful comments section of a post teaches us that the only way to be comfortable in ourselves and to deal with the jealousy and envy that social media brews, is to tear others down.
It is sad to see the lack of unity and solidarity amongst these apps and instead to be swamped with negativity and hatred. In this sense, the online world which we are so steadily consumed in, is more like a prevailing dystopia rather than a virtual escape. But none of this is new knowledge. We are all fully aware that social media is not an accurate representation of someone’s life, yet we continue to follow those who promote these unrealistic expectations. Is it because, we, as humans, prefer to idolise and dream of a life that could be? The saying ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’, comes into play here. Though most of us are content in our lives, the temptation that social media introduces of a fantasy-like lifestyle seems addictive. So, assuming that the world of social media will only grow, should we take a degree of control over which figures we choose to idolise? It is difficult to remember that social media is after all, only a façade and merely an altered version of someone’s life. As the world of technology becomes even more progressive, it is essential to treasure the normalities that reality provides us and to attempt to distinguish between the real and the idealised. By Zoe Wreford
