You can now tap your blemishes away with facial filters and photo editing apps in a matter of seconds. Have you ever considered how this is making us more insecure and self-conscious? With social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat offering beauty and augmented-reality facial filters, TikTok providing the ‘enhance’ setting option, Zoom ensuring flawless skin during videos with the ‘touch up my appearance’ option, FaceTune allowing users to reduce, enlarge and sharpen their way to perfection, it has never been easier for users to picture their ideal face. In the era of beauty filters and edited imagery, a dramatic impact has been exerted on our self-esteem and ultimately, our perception of beauty.

Our insecurity, before the advent of social media, stemmed from not meeting the beauty criteria set by glossy models on magazine covers. But today, not only are we comparing ourselves to the airbrushed A-listers, but also to our airbrushed fellows, and even against our very own airbrushed selves. Besides viewing an unrealistic image of a star and comparing ourselves with them, we are comparing ourselves against a false version of our own. It is not new to see our own imperfections in the mirror but knowing what we could look like without our imperfections certainly is. It encourages many to view their own natural appearance as no longer acceptable, so their tolerance for a bump on their nose, acne breakouts, a little thigh bulge, or thin lips is also continually dropping.

Using a little Instagram story filter to make up for a makeup-less face might seem harmless, however, repeated use of such filters often results in creating a new normal for our perception of how we should look. The edited image receives positive reinforcement in the form of likes and comments, which can snowball into a vicious cycle. People are increasingly losing self-confidence these days and this problem is swelling by the need to show a digitally distorted version of ourselves which reinforces the idea that our beauty in real life is not good enough for likes.

Today, so much of life is lived on the internet, with easy access to airbrushing, which increasingly divorces us from reality due to the manipulation of images and unrealistic expectations of what is normal, thus lowering our self-esteem. Now that everyone has access to their own virtual plastic surgeon, they see what they will look like with a smaller nose, fewer bags under their eyes, and a more defined jawline using a face filter and of course, they are tempted to make their best self a reality. In bargain, as the prices of botox and other less-invasive treatments decrease, this is no longer just a phenomenon for celebrities but also a trend for wealthy millennials and Gen Zs.

Selfies without filters are flipped, front and back cameras produce completely different results, and there are even substantial differences between smartphone models. As a matter of fact, something as trivial as the distance from which we normally take selfies also has a significant impact on the results. Measuring up to images that are far from reality, or even consistent can be significantly perilous, giving rise to selfie dysmorphia that slowly leads to body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Blurring the lines of reality and make-believe, filtered images tend to trigger this mental health condition that fixates people on imagined flaws in their appearance. People with this disorder focus intensely on their appearance or body image, are constantly spending heftily on self-grooming, and believe that others are mocking them. They continually compare their appearances with others, and seek assurance about their looks from others – this may be in the form of likes and comments too. In addition to causing distress, it can hinder the ability to function as well.

Those who suffer from BDD tend to undergo cosmetic surgery to correct these perceived flaws. Their satisfaction, however, lasts only a few months, leading them to seek additional treatments. Unfortunately, the inability to live up to the edited images can trigger other psychological concerns, including depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, as well as eating disorders. Surgical intervention is not advised in these cases as it might not enhance facial features; infact it might worsen the underlying BDD. Instead, researchers recommend psychological interventions like cognitive behavioural therapy and managing the disorder in an empathetic, non-judgmental manner.

If you believe you have BDD, seek help from a mental health professional. Even if you do not suffer from BDD but feel that social media causes you to over-analyse perceived flaws, develop a better relationship with your social media presence. Try to cut back on your screen time and remember that you are so much more than just looks. If you have not begun using filters or editing apps, then don’t even go there. Lastly, curate your feed — if your feed is dominated by people who make you feel bad about yourself, ask yourself why you keep following them. Think about following other accounts that are not image-centric and reinforce positivity.