How social media filters are impacting body confidence and image

We’ve all been there – thinking we’re just going to have a quick glance at our phones before bed, then suddenly we’re an hour in, scrolling through photos of people we don’t know and feeling less than amazing about ourselves. Whether we’re comparing our bodies, our hair, our homes or our work, the comparison trap online is made even more complex when you consider that so many images on social media are digitally manipulated. We might berate ourselves for not having smoother complexions or more aesthetically-pleasing homes, but there’s a strong chance that what we’re comparing ourselves to doesn’t exist – because the photo is retouched or filtered. The image is unreal. It creates an impossible standard that few of us can live up to.

This is why photo filters can sometimes be so harmful. Social media can be a wonderful place to find community and connection, but the downside is that it’s easier than ever for images to be altered in ways that aren’t obvious. Perhaps some thigh-trimming here and pimple vanishing there, or maybe hips are narrowed, cheekbones sharpened or cellulite erased. And that’s before you consider all the sponsorship deals, makeup artists and free gifts that lie behind the scenes of an influencer’s post to make it far from reality.

Confronted with around 5,000 digitally enhanced images every week, this carousel of ‘perfect’ pictures gives girls and women a dangerously unrealistic impression of what we should look like. It is sadly not surprising then that a quarter of girls think they don’t look good enough without photo editing, and Dove research(PDF)(3.9MB) found that one in two girls say toxic beauty advice on social media causes low self-esteem.

Fortunately, change is yours with a few taps of your screen. Pledge to detoxify your feed – think about what you like to see and what inspires and uplifts you, then don’t be afraid to press ‘unfollow’. If that feels like too much, start with the ‘hide’ or ‘mute’ function first. For any person or account that makes you feel bad about you or your body, unfollow/hide/block – and don’t worry, it’s not a permanent decision. You can always follow again in the future if you feel you’d like to. Then teach your child to do the same. Nobody owes an influencer or celebrity their allegiance. It’s empowering to realize you *do* have control over what you see.

Next, check your feed is diverse and inclusive, whether that’s size, shape, skin color, ability or appearance. This helps crumble the notion that there’s only one ‘kind’ of beauty, which can help to improve body confidence. Follow influencers who encourage body positivity and who say when they use social media filters. Find influencers who make you laugh, and remind you to be kind to yourself.