Looking perfect on social media for has become a competition for teenagers. Some post edited sunset pictures while others study their best angles, wear lots of makeup to capture the best shot possible. Is this a harmful or motivating thing to do?
The motivation and harm that comes along with perfection on social media for teenagers is a debatable topic. Some might think it motivates teenagers to become the best of themselves. However, it can lead to insecurity and jealousy between peers. Teenagers try their best to look perfect on social media mostly by their peers or by their mindset that compares themselves to others. This can motivate teenagers to fix the flaws in their appearance or personality, doesn’t it make them change who they are though?
Alongside all the likes and followers, perfection leads to insecurity of flaws that can be hardly recognized or it can decrease the chance of making friends between teenagers as if it is a competitive race between olympic champions. Scrolling through Instagram reels, teenagers come across lots of perfect girls that have the shiniest teeth, gorgeous eyes, silky hair, and a small nose that follows a perfect smile. What they don’t know is that these girls mostly edit their pictures a lot or have stuff done on their face. Even if they don’t, is it really meaningful for a teenager to compare themselves to a social media influencer or a well known star? Sadly, many teenagers can’t see their own beauty and only concentrate on the flaws that come alongside beauty. Flaws are the actual things that make a teenager have a unique beauty, like big nose, bunny teeth, and dark colored eyes. Beauty is not a thing to compare. Teenagers comparing themselves just causes an unfriendly environment, it does not make one prettier than the other. So, there is no point of comparing beauty on social media or between peers. People don’t only like posts for someone’s attractiveness, getting along and personality is also important.
In conclusion, the need of looking perfect on social media causes more harm than motivation for teenagers. People who like you because you “look” or “act” perfect aren’t important. People who like you with your flaws actually are. The sooner teenagers will realize this the sooner they will start to be themselves and be less insecure. That is the actual motivation they need.