Index IntroductionImpact of Beauty Standards on Body ImageBeauty Standards and Pressure on MenPositives and Negatives of Social MediaConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionModern social media is one of the biggest influences on teenagers today and about the unrealistic beauty standards that the media is preparing for the next generation is unhealthy. Some of these standards consist of girls playing with blonde, skinny Barbie dolls who were supposed to be considered “beautiful and perfect.” The sad part, though, is that most people don't even realize how much this is affecting young people; and if they understand, they simply don't care. Young people don't have many positive or realistic role models to look up to. Even in childhood they are faced with the thought of having to live up to something that no one will ever be able to achieve. So many young people adopt eating disorders and mental health problems because these standards put so much pressure on them to become something they are not. People of all genders struggle with the pressure to be “perfect,” but what modern media deems “perfect” simply isn't good enough for people. This is not what today's youth should be focusing or worrying about. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Impact of Beauty Standards on Body Image Most people for some reason do not understand what body image is and how it affects people. In the words of Margaret Scott “Body image is the way a person perceives the appearance of their body… it can influence and change the way one feels about their body and the way the person feels entails." Everyone sees their body differently than someone else would. Everyone is their own worst critic, so when they see all the other people to compare themselves to, it feels like they're not enough. “The media promotes an unhealthy image of beauty, especially women, which is harmful to society. Changing perspectives on body image since the late 20th century have ultimately morphed into an obsession with super-thinness. (Chittom, Finley)” The media pressure on girls to appear thin and “pretty” is driving so many girls to suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia to try to conform to unrealistic social standards of beauty when they are in reality they are only putting themselves in danger. People who can afford to have these plastic surgeries often do, but when they do they are frowned upon because they are not naturally "perfect." Beauty standards and pressure on men Unfortunately for many people who cannot afford to buy their "beauty" they turn to these ailments and many of them die from them. Some people end their lives because they think they will never be enough But it's not just women who have to deal with these standards and harsh morals: “The climactic scene in The Wizard of Oz where Toto pulls back the curtain to reveal a nervous, tragic man pretending to be the great and powerful Oz represents a powerful metaphor for looking at masculinity in a new way: not as a natural, inevitable, and fixed state of being, but rather as a projection, a performance, a mask that men often wear to protect our vulnerability and hide our humanity.(Katz 429)” Most men struggle with body image and self-esteem This scene from The Wizard of Oz really doesreliving the realization of what men experience on a daily basis when faced with modern media. Men tend to have to be forced to be manly all the time and if they do something that makes them look "weak" they are not manly enough or not at all. Every guy that the media presents to the public is always tall, muscular and tanned. They always have perfect hair and a chiseled jaw line when in reality most guys are a little soft or not as toned as the media makes them out to be and they might just be average height, but who cares?“When women either men read fashion magazines or…, they encounter more naked or semi-naked male and female bodies than they otherwise would. These bodies look perfect thanks to airbrushing and plastic surgery techniques..., our opinions on how women and men should look are shaped by these unreal images. (Ballaro, Wagner)”Positives and Negatives of Social MediaNowadays, the idea of ​​having to have the perfect body that could only be achieved with the help of plastic surgery and a computer is shoved down people's throats, not no matter where you look, even in regular TV commercials, they all have the same subtle airbrushed look. Many of today's top brands have models who have had plastic surgery and airbrushed photos to promote their wares to the public and many people will see the adverts and think that if the clothing doesn't fit them equally, then something must be wrong in them, “The importance of image in media studies coincides with the rise of advertising, advertising and 'public relations'. Typically, it is a 'brand',... which is carefully monitored, through marketing and advertising agencies or 'image consultants',... (Jones, Holmes)” Without the media, many brands would fail, such as Victoria's Secret, J. Crew, Ralph Lauren, etc. They Photoshop their photos to the point that their models look like completely different people. This is what today's society must live up to, an unrealistic standard that not even the "best of the best" could ever live up to. On the other hand, among all the negatives that come with social media, some people use images as a lens to help them get to where they want to be physically in life. Many times people can also find out how to achieve their goals through images on the Internet. Some people will look at people in the media and think to themselves, "This is how I want to look, I'll work hard now so I can look like this later in life." and in that case body image in the media could be considered a positive thing. Many girls admire women like the Kardashians for how they think their bodies should look and this look makes some people happy. When people have these important characteristics, they make them feel better about themselves and sometimes help them find love more easily. Body images in the media make people living unhealthy lifestyles want to be better, thus leading them to improve. Many Instagram influencers share their weight loss journeys through their Instagram feeds and inspire so many people to start their own weight loss journey and when they do they become much happier. There are always two sides to every story. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Modern social media has some good qualities like helping people find and achieve their goals in life, but most of the time, it brings so many people to the breaking point. Most modern media isn't real, whatever it is8