In a technologically-dominant world, nearly everyone has seen at least one Photoshopped, or digitally-altered, image in their life, whether it is believed or not. Social media has caused a frenzy of adults, teens, and kids alike who are obsessed with looking as perfect as possible. Entertainers and social media influencers have had a huge impact on this issue. The type of 'ideal body', a glorified image of how one should look, portrayed online, in movies, and in magazines simply misleads the general public into believing that having an ideal body is socially imperative. The stride that most Americans take towards an unattainable social construct is incredibly detrimental to one’s self-esteem, especially if these goals are not achieved. Although some scholars believe otherwise, a significant amount of men and women have begun to doubt the way they look, spiraling into self-hatred, because of an increasingly digitalized age in which the widespread of Photoshopped images becomes idolized.
One of the major effects of Photoshop is the increased rate of eating disorders. In fact, the National Eating Disorders Association proclaims that “... studies have linked exposure to the thin ideal in mass media to body dissatisfaction, internalization of the thin ideal, and disordered eating...” ('Media & Eating Disorders', 2018). Then, what is the cause for such a link in eating disorders among Americans? Photoshopped images have become such a reality for certain people that they feel that there is no other choice but to conform to media-fueled body images through unhealthy coping mechanisms. In an attempt to mirror the Photoshopped images, eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating disorder, proliferate throughout the population. However, these ideals are unachievable, which are worsened by the presence of media, further aggravating the problem.
Some scholars such as William Rhys Jones, a doctor at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ eating disorders faculty, back up this sentiment, “Images of unhealthy male body ideals in the media place unnecessary pressure on vulnerable people who strive for acceptance through the way they look” (Marsh, 2017), elucidating the effects of idealizing an unrealistic aesthetic and publicly endorsing such ideals. The alarming increase in body disillusion because of outrageous standards created by the media is a definite cause of concern for all Americans. Popularized images that were manipulated to fit certain beauty standards were created to garner consumer attention. Although frequent exposure to alluring imagery does entice excitement, Americans begin to equate all beauty with these imposed standards by the media. Although some may disagree, discounting the effects of media on body image would not only mean arguing against a correlation between Photoshopped images and body disorders (or self-hatred), but it would also disregard how influential the media can be.
Undeniably, American media has had a major influence beyond their own sociocultural sphere as they had significant impacts on the perception of beauty in other cultures and regions. For example, Fiji found a cultural shift in beauty ideals when Western television shows got introduced. American beauty standards, such as being thin, began being imprinted upon the people of Fiji — a culture that celebrated voluptuous women — which quickly became plagued with eating disorders (Day, 2017). An interesting phenomenon occurs in which fictional elements and cultural upbringing hastily dissipate away in the face of popular media. It is no surprise that massive amounts of people from all over the world are feeling more disgusted with themselves. The distortion of images, especially advertisements, prays upon an individual's desire to attain the best-perceived version of themselves. People are led to chase a proverbial grail that has been carefully curated by experts and locked up in a glass exhibit. This induced state of mind can be quite detrimental to Americans who are more susceptible to attaching themselves to corrupt influences that appear appealing. The promulgation of advertisements featuring attractive people can create envy within an individual who may feel that they need to attain that image at any cost.
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Usually, such dilemmas are centered on younger generations who are heavily influenced by public figures, such as musicians, actors, etc. In their desire to look similar to them, even with the possibility that their images are augmented, young Americans are still willing to commit to these ideas. Even influencers, albeit young adults, find themselves influenced by
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