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Digitized Dysmorphia
6
References
// Digitized
Dysmorphia
Editing Apps
Social Media & Body Image
Campaigns
Pressure
Selfie Harm
Synopsis
Topic Introduction
This visual essay aims to explore the role of social media in creating beauty standards and ideal body types that are at a discrepancy from our real appearances. Using the recently coined term digitized dysmorphia as an entry point into the rather vast topic, the essay will branch into selfie dysmorphia, selfie harm 2019, and photo editing softwares to better understand the digitization of dysmorphia. Although digitized dysmorphia places greater emphasis on feminine beauty under social media, and in the context of a hyper-sexualized and commodified female body, this visual essay will not delve into the gendered aspect. Simply, the topic will be one of how concepts of beauty and body type operate in a world that is so heavily influenced by social media, and how we now fix our flaws and our dislike towards them by virtually modifying them to create a ‘perfect’ version of ourselves. The essay will then proceed to explain how social media’s impact is not limited to digital alterations of the body, but also more material through plastic surgeries and eating disorders. At this point, the essay will have established that social media enables digitized dysmorphia to act as a vicious cycle, one that is definitely emphasised through photo editing softwares, curated Instagrams of celebrities’ bodies, and beautifying filters, but not limited to these. It impact’s one’s body, self-esteem, confidence, anxiety, and individuality, to name a few. Towards the end of the essay, a few campaigns from around the world and within LUMS that recognize the menace of digitized dysmorphia will be discussed briefly.
Coinage
Coinage
The phenomenon of people requesting procedures to resemble their digital image has been referred to as "Selfie Dysmorphia"
Digitized Dysmorphia
The discrepancy between the ideal beauty standard imposed by social media and the “real” appearance
coined
by
Editing Apps
Photo-manipulation and retouching which was previously the work of skilled professionals is now readily available to the masses with the help of highly simplified applications. Not only are the altered and unrealistic photographs shared on social media apps but they are created on such apps.
Statistics
68% of Adults Edit Their Selfies Before Sharing Them With Anyone
Alterations
Alterations
Various filters, effects and retouches encourage users to drastically change the natural appearance, producing a supposedly more 'flattering' image to be posted on social media.
Ideal Image
Ideal Image
Patterns of preference can be noticed in the ideal image of a human which is displayed on social media. These include but are not limited to:
- Bigger Eyes
- Plumped upper lip
- Longer eyelashes
- Thinner nose ridge
- Removal of naso-labial folds
- Removal of Peri-orbital puffiness
- shorter philitrum
- all over even skin tone
- freckles
Pressure to Look Perfect
It found that 87% of women and 65% of men compare their bodies to images they consume on social and traditional media
Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic Surgery
Over 40% of plastic surgeons say looking better in selfies on social media is a goal for patients to seek cosmetic surgery, Botox and fillers
People go through unimaginable lengths to achieve the unrealistic beauty standards portrayed online. One of the measures employed are both invasive and non-invasive surgical procedures
The total number of cosmetic surgeries in the U.S. increased by more than 250,000 from 2017 to 2018
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders
According to the National Eating Disorder Association, a recent study of women between the ages of 18 and 25 showed a link between Instagram and increased self-objectification and body image concerns, especially among those who frequently viewed fitspiration images
Selfie Harm 2019
Photographer Rankin, in collaboration with MTArt Agency and M&C Saatchi highlighted the pitfalls of social media in instigating body dysmorphia as a part of their Visual Diet campaign in 2019
Method
15 teenagers aged 13 to 19 were photographed with minimal to no makeup and then given their photos to edit and retouch until they deemed them to be 'social-media ready".
Results
Results
Bigger eyes, smaller noses and skinnier necks were the main ones.
But smoothening the skin and brightening the eyes are the more subtle ones.
-Feature Shoot
Campaigns
In consideration of the mental health deterioration and other negative impacts of digitized dysmorphia there have been a number of body-positivity and self-esteem enchancing campaigns in the recent years that aim to reduce the damage done.
The platform of these campaigns trying to counter the harm of social media?
Social media itself.
Dove Real Beauty
Dove Real Beauty
In 2004, Dove widened the definition of beauty through its landmark Real Beauty campaign, challenging many of the unachievable beauty standards promulgated by the social media and beauty industry. It rallied around the “real beauty” of women everywhere.
A big chunk of their digital marketing campaign used promotion via social media as the primary platform.
Filter Drop
Filter Drop
UK based model and make-up artist Sasha Louise Pallari launched the #FilterDrop campaign after noticing influencers "advertising a makeup brand with a beautifying filter on."
Taking to Instagram, the 28-year-old claims "false advertising" in this way is contributing to low self-esteem.
No Makeup Selfies
What started out as an effort to raise money for cancer research quickly morphed into a phenomenon of self-expression—liberating many women from the chimera of modern beauty ideals.
This showed a different side of the facade but still came with its share of criticism regarding that the new pressure on viewers was now of how to look without makeup.
#NoFilter at LUMS
LUMS No Filter
The students at LUMS ran a neutrally-gendered Instagram campaign which encouraged people to become more accepting and positive about their non-filtered and non-edited appearance especially on social media.
This sparked a healthy dialogue in which some students were able to identify and open up about their insecurities instigated by Digitized Dysmorphia and shared a common journey driven to overcome them.
The students at LUMS ran an Instagram campaign that promoted feeling confident about one's physical appearance. This not only involved the posting of non-edited and non-filtered selfies but also sparked an open discussion that was neutrally gendered and all-inclusive.
Some students admitted their vulnerabilities instigated by Digitized Dysmorphia and shared their journey of trying to overcome them.
All pictures are posted with con
References
Castillo, I. D. (2019, June 21). ‘Selfie Harm’: experiment shows what’s problematic about editing apps. Retrieved from Feature Shoot: https://www.featureshoot.com/2019/06/selfie-harm-experiment-shows-whats-problematic-about-editing-apps/
Davies, A. (2018, April 20). People are getting surgery to look like their Snapchat selfies. Retrieved from BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/9ca4f7c6-d2c3-4e25-862c-03aed9ec1082
Early, K. (2019, January 2019). What is 'selfie dysmorphia' and why are people talking about it again? Retrieved from Daily Edge: https://www.dailyedge.ie/what-is-selfie-dysmorphia-and-why-are-people-talking-about-it-again-4456401-Jan2019/
Gelblum, B. (2018, August 16). Teens are having plastic surgery… so they can look just like they do in selfies. Retrieved from The London Economic: https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/lifestyle/health/teens-are-having-plastic-surgery-so-they-can-look-just-like-they-do-in-selfies/16/08/
Hunt, E. (2019, January 23). Faking it: how selfie dysmorphia is driving people to seek surgery. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/23/faking-it-how-selfie-dysmorphia-is-driving-people-to-seek-surgery
In the Life of Dr.Tijion Esho. (2020, June 19). Retrieved from Aesthetics Journal: https://aestheticsjournal.com/feature/in-the-life-of-dr-tijion-esho
Ottke, A. (2015, october 30). 68 Percent of Adults Edit Their Selfies Before Sharing Them With Anyone. Retrieved from Fstoppers: https://fstoppers.com/mobile/68-percent-adults-edit-their-selfies-sharing-them-anyone-95417
Vesnin, A. (2019, January 14). Visual Diet. Retrieved from Design Collector: https://designcollector.net/public/visualdiet