Social media has become a powerful force in shaping our perceptions of beauty and body image. With Instagram filters and TikTok trends, the influence of social media on body image has never been more prevalent.

This constant exposure can shape our perceptions of beauty and self-worth, but not all of them are negative. Social media also has the power to encourage body positivity and self-acceptance, with movements promoting all body types and encouraging people to make positive decisions about their own bodies.

As a clinic providing aesthetic procedures and cosmetic surgery in Jersey and Guernsey, we are at the forefront of topics such as this. Over the years, we’ve observed how social media has significantly influenced our industry, often encouraging people to pursue various treatments and procedures.

While this influence is often seen in a negative light, we are exploring if, and how, social media has also had any positive impacts on body image.

The Impact of Social Media on Body Image Over the Years

It is safe to say that social media has significantly shaped how we perceive our faces and bodies, with widespread agreement that filters and editing often promote unrealistic beauty standards. This altered reality has negatively affected countless men and women worldwide, reinforcing the idea that only certain facial features and body types are valued, which leaves many feeling self-conscious and insecure about their appearance.

Various social media trends come and go fast, but while a dance fad is a great example of this, the trends that revolve around certain body types can be incredibly damaging. For example, the trend of a “thigh gap” gained popularity in the early 2010s across platforms such as Tumblr and Instagram, with hashtags used to promote it, such as #thinspiration. A thigh gap is exactly what the name suggests: a visible space between the thighs when standing with feet together. This body image became so sought after amongst young women that many of them took to the extremes to achieve it through excessive diet and overexercising.

Another example is the trend of being “slim thick”, which is characterised by a small waist and curvy hips. Gaining popularity around 2017-2018, this desired image led to an influx of cosmetic surgeries such as BBLs (Brazilian Butt Lifts).

However, it isn’t all negative. In fact, in recent years, there have been many positive shifts in the relationship between social media and body image. Body positivity has made its way onto many social platforms, encouraging and uplifting people of all shapes and sizes to showcase that sometimes social media falsifies things. For example, some influencers and celebrities have taken to the “Posed vs Unposed” trend, which shows two images side by side, highlighting that most photographs you see online are heavily posed and are not realistic examples of what their bodies look like.

 

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The Important Part that Celebrities Play Online

Love them or hate them, celebrities and influencers have a huge impact on trends, and therefore as we’ve seen, also body image. Whether they have thousands or millions of followers, with many people looking up to them as inspiration, being a celebrity or influencer online comes with a role to play in setting a standard.

Influencers are named this way for a reason: they influence people, often young women and girls. Because of this, posting heavily edited or filtered images of their bodies can have detrimental effects on the people who follow them. Upon seeing an edited photograph, impressionable followers will inevitably compare it to their own bodies, and of course, the standards set by the edited image will be impossible to achieve.

On the back of this, we noticed a cosmetic surgery boom, with many people turning to aesthetic treatments and procedures in an attempt to achieve their desired look. At our cosmetic clinics in Guernsey and Jersey, we have thorough consultations with all patients before they undergo a procedure, and during this, we encourage them to ensure they are making the best choice for them. Some procedures are irreversible, so you must be certain that you are making the decision for the right reasons before going under the knife.

Can Social Media Ever Have a Positive Influence on Body Image?

As mentioned, more and more body positivity is making its way on our social platforms. For instance, Dove’s “The Reverse Selfie” campaign highlighted the negative effects that photo editing has on young girls. It showed the drastic difference between a child after editing her selfie and her true image, which emphasised how damaging filters and editing are for girls’ self-esteem. While the advert itself highlighted the negativities of social media, it also encouraged parents to speak to their children about the impact that platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were having.

Similarly, in regard to body image, celebrities have been speaking up about body diversity and highlighting that you do not have to be a certain shape or size to be beautiful. In addition, people such as Lizzo have been vocal about their body image journeys, using their platforms for positive change. The plus-sized singer speaks confidently and openly about the importance of rejecting societal norms and embracing self-love, even if you don’t fit into the body type that happens to be currently trending. Public conversations like this are incredibly important in a world where a body part, size, or shape is in one day and out the next, making room for the next trending thing.

Choose ASC: A Respected, Experienced, and Medically-Driven Clinic

While we believe everyone is beautiful in their unique way, we also understand that cosmetic surgery and aesthetic procedures are personal choices that you have a right to make yourself. If you want a surgery or treatment and you are making the decision for you, you must choose a reputable clinic, such as ourselves.

All our doctors, surgeons, practitioners, and aestheticians are medically trained and results-driven, meaning we will listen to your needs and wants and come up with a safe solution that works for you. For more information or to book a discreet consultation with our team, please contact us today.