Week 12: Social Media is Bad For Your Health

 Have you ever considered what the world will be like in 5 years? 10 years? What will the younger generations be like? I wonder this all the time. Given the way the world is now, and the influence that social media has on people's appearance and overall everyday lives, I feel like we are in for an interesting time. The generations after us are going to grow up only ever knowing a world full of Instagram models and Snapchat filters. There will be children growing up believing that if you don't look like the girl in the Instagram post, then you are essentially worthless. The era of social media's unrealistic expectations needs to end, soon. 

It's sad to think that our future daughters and sons will grow up in a world where altering your appearance to where you are nearly unrecognizable in real life is a normal thing. We need to be teaching ourselves and others that being unapologetically you is the best thing you can do. We need to, as a whole, go back to life before filters, before all of the editing tools that are available now, the insanely unrealistic makeup being used to reshape faces. We just need to be okay with who we are, so that the younger generations who will be learning from us learn correctly. 

I personally have gotten so used to using filters and editing tools to make myself look "better" that I hated seeing pictures of myself unfiltered. I hated the way that image looked because I was so used to having a filter that distorts my features. It truly is such an unhealthy way to be living. Because of this, I have stopped using filters and am really working on loving myself the way that I am. I try not to go on social media as much because it is just unhealthy and makes me feel bad about myself. But, I have noticed a big change in myself and my confidence since taking that break. 

The future of our world depends on what we are teaching now. Teaching people to love the skin that they are in is what should be happening. If anything, making yourself look better physically should be done by being active/exercising, taking care of your hygiene, etc., it should not matter what kind of makeup you can do or the hairstyles you are able to accomplish. 

Being a good person is what should become popular next. Not being the skinniest, or the most tan, or having the most perfect teeth, or the most beautiful curves on your body. What should matter and what should be looked at is how you treat others. How you treat yourself. What you are willing to do for others or how you are trying to help people. These are the things that we need to be focusing on and passing on to the future generations. We don't need a world filled with fake people who are terrible to one another and only care about who looks the best in their latest Instagram posts. 

I have noticed lately that since this issue has become so prevalent, a lot of influencers are choosing to use less filters and be more transparent with their followers. Many people are starting to realize the damage being done by creating such insane expectations on social media. It has been nice to see, but it definitely needs a lot more participation. There are still so many people using filters and editing pictures to where they look almost unrecognizable and it is just so unhealthy. 

The expectations people feel they need to fulfill can cause so many things such as eating disorders, drug or alcohol problems, depression, anxiety, etc. All of these can be caused by people not feeling good enough or not feeling like they will ever be accepted by society today due to the way social media plays such a massive part in our lives. 

Below I am going to include some of the examples of Instagram vs Reality because it really gives you some perspective on just how bad the social media editing has gotten. Before you view these and think I am being mean by choosing some of them, just know I always feel that the unedited version is better. While I was a huge fan of filters and editing, I am learning to love who I am without those things and so should you. The real version will always be better than the filters and edits.