The Cost of Perfection: How Social Media's Perception of Beauty Harms Young People

Society paints a picture of the perfect young man or woman: a teenage girl must have a tiny waist, small thighs, a flat stomach, effortless but put together hair cascading down her shoulders, a nose resembling a ski slope; a teenage boy must have developed muscles, a tall figure, a sharp jawline, longer hair but not too long, yet not too close cut. These expectations have changed throughout the years, but mostly only targeted adults. In recent years, extreme beauty standards have begun to reach younger audiences through social media and admired celebrities; these standards have taken negative effects on these young people, to the point that lives are on the line.

Unrealistic beauty expectations date back to times of tight corsets and dainty shoes hundreds of years ago, but the push onto children started around the 90s-2000s with the rise of extremely underweight models. Magazines and brands like Victoria’s Secret began to romanticize unhealthy dieting and a blueprint for the perfect face. At the time, celebrities had begun to conform with these standards in order to keep a good image, normalizing them even further. Consequently, as social media was introduced and celebrities began to be admired more, these expectations reached younger audiences through influencers and beauty brands. Young people are growing more exposed to these unrealistic standards as social media grows more relevant in today’s day and age.

Namely, beauty standards reached younger audiences today through a domino effect or chain reaction. These expectations first bloomed among models, whom celebrities took inspiration from. Thus, with the rise of social media, modern influencers began to mimic these conforming celebrities. Moving down the chain, beauty brands now see these Gen Z, down-to-earth influencers and realize that they can reach younger audiences through these influencers, further promoting their products and implementing these standards onto teens and young adults. Ultimately, social media is the culprit responsible for allowing today’s younger generations to be affected by society’s twisted perception of beauty.

The New Normal

Through social media, extreme beauty standards have been normalized among young people. I personally find this an intensely significant issue in our society today and, in my interest, I decided to conduct a survey on this topic to further enhance my understanding of the effects it can have on my own peers. This survey was sent to 10th graders, 9th graders, 8th graders, and 7th graders and their responses remained anonymous. The survey sought to discover from a personal perspective what my own peers’ experiences were with beauty standards on social media.

To begin with, 85.7% of my respondents showed that they spend about 1-3 hours on social media daily. A significant majority of respondents (85.7%) then went on to respond that they have encountered content that promotes extreme dieting, plastic surgery, or other beauty modifications on social media, with 58.3% of this majority seeing it frequently. Moving on, as respondents were asked how much they feel social media affects perception of beauty on a scale from 1-5, 80.2% answered on a high level. A total of 57.1% of respondents agreed that they feel pressured to change their appearance because of beauty standards. Later in the survey, on a short answer poll of how they’ve felt the need to change their appearance, a majority mentioned body modifications, whether it was to be more skinny or muscular.

To end the survey, respondents were asked to describe what they believe is the common standard for men and women today. Almost all answered along the lines that women are expected to be super thin with specific “perfect” facial features, while men are expected to be tall and muscular. This data was extremely beneficial to me as it confirmed the effects of these standards on social media and showed me that their impact can be found in any young community.

Harmful Effects of Unrealistic Standards

As these expectations reach these audiences, they can have detrimental or even deadly influences on young minds and bodies. One of the most alarming consequences is the rise of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Both of these disorders are fueled by the pressure to maintain an unrealistic body image, pushing victims towards using dangerous methods to achieve a “perfect body.” Anorexia, defined by extreme food restriction and a fear of gaining weight, has the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. Bulimia is also extremely dangerous as it involves a cycle of food binging followed by purging, risking heart failure and digestive issues.

Beyond eating disorders, these standards can cause or contribute to severe mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, facial dysmorphia, and body dysmorphia. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) causes an individual to obsess over flaws in their appearance and twists their perception of their own body, often leading to social withdrawal, self-harm, or even suicidal thoughts. Facial dysmorphia is a subsection of BDD and is almost identical, only it specifically focuses on facial features.

Unrealistic beauty standards not only harm self esteem, but they claim lives. The glorification of thinness and perfection drives many young people into a cycle of self-destruction, making them turn to hazardous behaviors to achieve something completely out of reach.

Toxic Online Communities

Unfortunately, teens and young adults impacted by today’s beauty standards have created communities online, not to help each other, but instead to further implement these expectations and encourage each other to continue harmful behaviors. While these communities are filled with toxicity and unhealthy encouragement, it’s important to remember that everyone that participates in them is a victim of society’s unrealistic expectations. One example of an online community like this is Eating Disorder Twitter, widely known as EDTWT—a corner of social media where disordered eating is not only normalized but glorified.

This community on X, formerly Twitter, consists of people ranging from 14 to 22 years old suffering from eating disorders and mental illnesses relating to body perception. However, instead of being a place for support and recovery, it often becomes a breeding ground for harmful advice, dangerous weight-loss methods, and unrealistic body image promotion. Taking time to scroll through posts in this community, I found that it’s common for a member to post body updates, give fasting tips, and put information like their BMI, height, and weight in their bios. I also found that there are two differing sides of EDTWT—one is pro-recovery and the other is against it. When an account announces that they will be going down a path of recovery, it’s common for them to lose followers and engagement.

As I scrolled through, the posts got more and more disturbing. Users, some as young as 14, reminisce on times when their bones were completely visible beneath their skin. Youthful members post about wanting to look “sickly thin,” complaining about a period of binging, and preparing for month-long fasts. Some accounts share dangerous advice on how to suppress hunger, hide their struggles from friends and family, and push their bodies to extremes, all while being cheered on by others trapped in the same cycle.

EDTWT is particularly dangerous because it gives young people a false sense of belonging. Many join seeking comfort, only to become trapped in a space where unhealthy behaviors are constantly validated. The nature of social media makes it easy for users to spiral deeper into their disorders and, instead of receiving professional help, they turn to others who are equally struggling. This reinforces harmful mindsets rather than breaking them.

However, as harmful as EDTWT is, it’s crucial to remember that those who participate in these spaces aren’t villains—they’re victims. Many of them are deeply struggling, trapped in a mindset fueled by unrealistic beauty standards, societal pressures, and mental illness. Instead of looking down upon them, the world should recognize their struggles and work toward creating an environment where no one should feel the need to seek validation through self-destruction. By promoting awareness, compassion, and proper support systems, we can break the cycle and ensure that no one feels alone in their fight toward recovery.

How to Let Go

Letting go of unrealistic beauty standards can be difficult, especially when they are so deeply ingrained in society and reinforced from a young age. However, breaking free from these expectations is possible with a shift in perspective. The first step is recognizing that these standards are constantly changing and are often impossible to achieve. What is considered beautiful today may not be the same in a few years, proving that these ideals are not an absolute measure of worth. Instead of chasing an ever-shifting definition of perfection, it’s important to focus on what makes you feel authentic in your own skin.

Another key step is shifting your focus away from appearance and rather focusing on well-being. Practice self-compassion and work to push away negative thoughts toward yourself. When thoughts of self-criticism arise, perhaps think to yourself if you would judge a friend this harshly. Over time, as you implement self-love into your life, your mindset will heal.

Healing from these expectations takes time, and the process is not meant to be linear. Surrounding yourself with positive influences like friends, family, or role models can make a significant difference. True beauty isn’t about fitting into a mold or looking just like a blueprint; it’s about embracing your individuality, feeling confident in your own skin, and freeing yourself from the need for external validation.

Interested? Find more by Maria Yolanda here!

ABOUT MARIA YOLANDA

Maria Yolanda is a freshman at Centner Academy. Beyond just reporting, Maria is also a digital organizer, designer and editor at The Pollinator Post. Maria has experience as a 7th-grade journalist and as an author of a suspenseful, thrilling novella. She has a strong passion for covering true crime, along with conducting interviews and surveys. Maria is fascinated by seeing the world from other people’s perspectives and putting herself in their minds.