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Do Instagram filters affect people’s mental health?

For this week topic, it will be highly focus on software literacy, how Instagram filters affects women’s relationship to media and cultural representations of female beauty standards and how has filters represented oneself via digitally modified images that produces a socially collective “Digital Dysmorphia.” Digitized Dysmorphia exists on a spectrum with Body Dysmorphia Disorder (BDD), received by society’s pressures, constructs of beauty and the technology presently available to attain standards in image form (Isabell Coy Dibley). She then quoted a term that like Body Dysmorphia which is “digitised dysmorphia,” arguably created using modification apps.

With the rise of Snapchat software on year 2011, the function of face filters has brought up the heatwaves among users. Selfies era were extremely popular among teenagers where they could apply filters to beautify digital images in real time. Several apps such as Instagram and Facebook do follow the trends of face filters in order to compete. Therefore, I will discuss on the relationship between Instagram filters and the impact on women to attain beauty standards. Beauty filters promote a homogenous and unrealistic beauty standard, particularly apply on women. There are various filters that can cover one’s flaws, making defined jawlines and sharp noes. Physical and digital filter enables to remove unwanted things, people most likely to add them rather than remove. According to Dr Doft in Forbes article, Instagram has created an “airbrushed online” environment that is increasingly divorced from reality” (Haines 2021). The filters give an unrealistic perception of what society deems as “conventionally attractive,” ultimately condemn younger social media users as they are tempted to reach society’s impossible beauty standards.

There are different types of Instagram filters to choose from. Some filters include changing the saturation, brightness, and colour of the photo, while other filters are used to enhanced face features. However, Instagram announced to ban all cosmetic filters in 2019 depict promote plastic surgery, affect people’s mental health (Instagram bans all cometic surgery filters 2019, para.1). Instagram was under scrutiny where a father of 14 -year-old British teenager explained Instagram filters have contributed self-harm and depression that leads to his daughter’s suicide. The consumption of Instagram filters will easily distort self-perception. When individuals apply filters often, they may become accustomed to seeing their altered appearances and develop a skewed perception of themselves. This distorted self-perception can make it challenging to accept or appreciate their natural features without the filters. As a result, individuals may feel the need to constantly modify appearance, leading to an unhealthy preoccupation with their perceived flaws.

From my personal point of view, I do use filters to cover flaws and make skin looks smoother, especially without putting on make-up. Honestly, I feel Instagram filters shifts the idea of beauty standards and input the idea of body dysmorphia in each of us. I tend to feel insecure when filters were not added in my selfies, because I am too used to the culture of Instagram filters where it already normalised in the community. In conclusion, the cultural of face filters are advised to be use cautiously to avoid problematic issues in the society.

References:

Coy-Dibley, I, (2016). Digitized Dysmorphia of the Female Body: The Re/Disfigurement of the Image. Palgrave Communications. 2:16040 doi: 10.1057/palcomms.2016.40.

Haines A, 2021, ‘From Instagram Face To Snapchat Dysmorphia: How Beauty Filters Are Changing The Way We See Ourselves’, Forbes, viewed 10th June 2022, <https://www.forbes.com/sites/annahaines/2021/04/27/from-instagram-face-to-snapchat-dysmorphia-how-beauty-filters-are-changing-the-way-we-see-ourselves/?sh=f6bad2e4eff4>.

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Concept of ‘Perfection’ by Social Media Influencers

I am excited for this week discussion topic which touch on influencers beauty standards that has been set from social media. The rise of influencers has given rise to a whole culture that has had both positive and negative effects on our society, with beauty standards being a prime example. As social media platforms have increasingly become popular, people have come out with a designated beauty standard online. Beauty standards refers to a set of values applied to the appearance of both men and women to be regarded as beautiful and handsome in order to fit in with the community (Raaziya 2023).  Women, in general, are suppose to owns a better body image than men. Appearance should be long hair and flawless skin as the basic beauty standards. However, with the standards that been shaped, it somehow affects the society where is not entirely positive.

Social media and influencer culture have close relationship on impacting beauty standards by swaying society’s perception of ourselves. The rise of photo/video-based social media engagement has resulted in self-objectification and body dissatisfaction, which can be attributed to over-exposure to "idealised" body types. This can lead to unrealistic beauty standards in both men and women, resulting in body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem (Psych Central 2023). Whereas, social media can foster a toxic culture of comparison and competition, in which people compare their bodies to those of others and strive to meet the same beauty standards.

One of the most predominant influencers that netizen often discuss about beauty standards will be the Kardashians family. They have served as the standards for beauty and body image for the past decade. Almost all the family members have been through botox and fillers surgery, that presents the unrealistic ideals they perpetuated. Whereas, body image standards such as slim waist, large breasts and clear skin would be considered ideal in their family. Kylie Jenner received backlash for squeezing into tiny corset after comments about beauty standards. The unrealistic and unhealthy body modification have gained negative comments on Instagram where netizens felt disappointed where girls in the society think they should live the same way too (Woodcock 2023).

As such, studies have found that adolescents and teenagers tend to experience distress, dissatisfied with their body shapes, and have low-self-esteem on social media. According to an interview study with 24 teenage girls, Chua and Chang found that they are most likely match anticipated expectations and preferences by presenting a ‘highly selective’ of themselves in order to please their followers (Chua T.H.H., Chang L 2016). The major factor that leads to body dissatisfaction is due to exposure of Instagram images that depict attractive and thin celebrities and peers was associated with higher body dissatisfaction levels, moderated by social comparison.

References:

Raaziya S, 2023 ‘Dominating beauty standards: 4 reasons why high beauty standards are dangerous’, viewed 6th June 2022, <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/awesome-reads/dominating-beauty-standards-4-reasons-why-high-beauty-standards-are-dangerous-50709/>.

Woodcock Z, 2023, ‘Kylie Jenner slammed for squeezing into tiny corset after comments about beauty standards’, Mirror, viewed 6th June 2022, <https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/kylie-jenner-slammed-squeezing-tiny-29875689>.

Chua T.H.H., Chang L. Follow Me and like My Beautiful Selfies: Singapore Teenage Girls’ Engagement in Self-Presentation and Peer Comparison on Social Media. Comput. Hum. Behav. 2016;55:190–197.

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Social Media Governance

The topic for this week centralised more onto online harassment and the use of social media governance. With the advancement of internet, the online users have increased massively from time to time. Although users were been encouraged to be a knowledgeable digital citizenship, but the social media governance are not able to control the Internet and social media properly. As such, online harassment happens often when without any strict regulations applied. Online harassment could be defined as been called offensive names, embarrassed online or physically threatened online. (Lenhart, et al in Marwick & Robyn Caplan 2018).  

An article explains the “NoSnowFlakes”: The toleration of harassment and an emergent gender-related digital divide, in a UK student online culture, written by Craig Haslop, Fiona O’Rourke and Rosalynd Southern in 2021. The article addressed ‘Snowflake Generation’ as mentally fragile of millennials, lack of intolerance and easily offended. Basically, snowflakes coined the term of ‘safe space’ refers to special areas where ideas cannot be challenged, and ‘trigger warning’ cautioning that contrary ideas might be expressed. Many of the technique used in network harassment, such as doxing (publishing personal information online) and image-based abuse (spreading intimate photos beyond origins) were redefined by men’s rights activist and anti-feminist gamers during a proacted online controversy known as Gamergate. Respondents who identify as female and transgender are most likely to receive and target as online harassment (Haslop, O’Rourke, Southern, 2021, p. 1420). According to research, students who are subjected to online harassment can experience a variety of emotional, psychological, and physiological effects (Haslop, O’Rourke, Southern, 2021, p. 1420).

Online abuse of women is widespread in the UK with one in five women having suffered online abuse or harassment. Majority of the victims said the abuse or harassment was received was sexist or misogynistic, with a worrying 27% saying it threatened sexual or physical assault (Amnesty International UK). The “normalisation” of misogyny are significant problems that exist in digital space. Gendered harassment often focuses on the graphic objectification of women’s bodies (Laura Vitis and Fairleigh Gilmour, 2017). The existing power thirst from men online mirrors that of real life, whereby women face higher levels of harassment, thereby addressed issue "whether such harassment simply repeats real world gendered inequalities and tensions or whether it is a product of the Internet" (Laura Vitis and Fairleigh Gilmour, 2017).”

Online harassment and abusive content were flooded on digital space. Male aggression is thus normalised and women’s access to public space delimited for the ideal neoliberal citizen is someone who ‘assumes personal responsibility for guarding against the risk of victimization, instead of focusing on their right not be victimized. So what are the other alternative method to combat online harassment under the monitor of social media governance?

References:

Haslop, C., O’Rourke, F., & Southern, R. (2021). #NoSnowflakes: The toleration of harassment and an emergent gender-related digital divide, in a UK student online culture. Convergence, 27(5), 1418–1438.

Laura Vitis and Fairleigh Gilmour (2017) 'Dick pics on blast: A woman’s resistance to online sexual harassment using humor, art, and Instagram', Download  'Dick pics on blast: A woman’s resistance to online sexual harassment using humor, art and Instagram', Crime, Media, Culture. 13(3) 335-355. 

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How Cotton On defines itself as a sustainable business / How Instagram models are influencing the fashion industry

In this week discussion post, I am going to discuss about the relationship between digital citizenship and slow fashion movement. The slow fashion movement can relate closely to the concept of digital citizenship. Digital citizenship in a layman term can be described as a person who has the skill and knowledge to use technologies wisely and positive way to participate in society, communicate with others and create and consume digital content.

‘Slow Fashion’ a term that often used as ‘eco fashion’, ‘sustainable fashion’ or ‘ethical consumption’. Slow fashion aims to build on the essential concepts of sustainability values, ethical working conditions and decreasing environmental containments (Chi et al 2021). Whereas, sustainable fashion refers to ‘goods and services that meets the basic requirement and improve better quality, while minimize the use of natural resources, toxic materials, and immersions of waste over the life cycle to prevent jeopardizing the needs of future generations. There are also a few principals to qualify a fashion label ‘sustainable’. Materials utilised within the product must be less harming to nature, recycled and durable.

Various retailers and brands slowly position themselves towards sustainable company to remain customers loyalty. By implement this action, company could improve brand reputation and deliver’s an active corporate social responsibility. Cotton On is a reputable fashion retailer on the market which emphasize on environment sustainability and slow fashion in a long-term process. Cotton On seeks ‘sustainability’ as the business goals and determine to deliver positive impact on people, communities, and the planet. Fundamentally, Cotton On constantly create innovative products that leads to sustainability. Cotton On Body have collaborated with suppliers to turn useless coffee grounds into something new. The used coffee grounds can turn into recycled fabric. The business can contribute towards reducing food waste which is one of the elements towards slow fashion movement. (Cotton On Group 2020).

Thus, social media influencers do make a great impact on influencing the action of digital citizens. For example, Amber Scholl is a content creator on YouTube that holds 3.66 million subscribers that mainly focus on DIY reusable clothes and fashion apparel contents. Most of her content are engaging and inspired audiences to make further action on trying different types of DIY outwear. As such, social media influencers do influence the fashion industry with its appealing and engaging content.

While fast fashion negatively impacts the environment, slow fashion aims to do the opposite providing “sustainable fashion” (Zhen et al. 2017, p. 83) that ensures consumers basic needs are met and their lives are benefited, in turn, the movement reduces the impact on our natural resources. Based on my observation, fashion industry has made several efforts in emerging the trend of slow fashion to align with the market in this 21st century.

References:

Cotton On Group, 2020 “Cotton On Body Launch activewear made from recycled coffee grind”, viewed 1st June 2022, Available at:.

Lai, Z, Henninger, C & Alevizou, P 2017, “An Exploration of Consumers’ Perceptions Towards Sustainable Fashion – A Qualitative Study in the UK”, Sustainability in Fashion A Cradle to Upcycle Approach, pp. 81-101.

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How The Ice Bucket Challenge became so successful with the use of Hashtags?

Social media activism is a method of online protest and advocacy for a cause (Newberry Ashely 2022). Hashtag plays an essential role in mobilizing movements on social media, the term is often used with hashtag activism. The purpose of activism on social media is to promote awareness of social justice issues and show solidarity through the use hashtag, post, and campaigns. Activist organizations are increasingly seeing the value of social media for recruitment, public engagement, and campaign organization. Indeed, Manuel Castells’ (2013) book on social movements in the Internet age is largely focused on social media technologies.

Activist and Protestor on social media globally

People have discovered new methods to communicate and spread awareness through social media. The power of social media can amplify voices, instantaneously spread information around the world. One of the most famous global activists will be The Ice Bucket Challenge. It is a challenge and campaign to promote awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – encourage donations for research. A person is filmed as a bucket of water and ice is thrown over his or her head. The individual then nominates at least three other people to do the same thing, with only 24 hours to complete the challenge and donate to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association. This challenge went viral in July and August 2014, using social media as the main tool to reach a worldwide audience. According to USA Today, more than 17 million users posted videos online, followed by celebrity and politic candidates’ contributions in this campaign (Trejos 2017). In the U.S., there were 2.5 million participants who donated $115 million to the ALS Association. The money raised through the challenge was used to fund research and development of treatment drugs over a two-year period.

Why the challenge is so successful?

The challenges have made it easier for people to participate, support with fun and social. Participants have a reason to post a silly video and politely peer pressure their friends to do the same. The ice bucket challenge's simple nature, combined with its social incentives, makes the campaign ripe for success. Participants in the ALS Association's challenge are encouraged to use the hashtags #icebucketchallenge, #alsicebucketchallenge, and #strikeoutALS. These hashtags help people find videos more easily. More importantly, hashtags group videos together, making it easier to contribute to and follow the trend. Hashtags also aid in the formation of a community-like following (O’Brien).

Retrieved from ITVX News

The ice bucket challenge is a successful internet marketing campaign. Internet marketing is so effective because it encourages interaction and participation from the target audience. The charitable component was undoubtedly a significant contributor to this tremendous success. It prompted many celebrities to lead by example and donate. People like Marc Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Kim Kardashian appeared completely wet and frozen on our social media feeds; this was novel, and it added to the fun. People are always interested in what keeps celebrities busy, and the Ice Bucket Challenge provided just that (Greci 2017).

In my opinion, the promotion of hashtags was simple and significant, which are two important factors in creating successful brand-related hashtags. Social media combined these elements to form something larger, a phenomenon that will stand as an excellent example of the power of social media marketing in the future (Greci 2017).

References:

Castells, M 2013, ‘Networks of outrage and hope: Social movements in the internet age’, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. (W6)

Greci E, 2017 ‘How Social Media and the Ice Bucket Challenge Contributed to a Breakthrough in ALS Research’, iRise media, viewed 9 May 2023, .

O’Brien, C 2022, ‘How to Use Hashtags Effectively on Social Media’, Digital Marketing Institue, viewed 9 May 2023, .

Trejos, A 2017, ‘Ice Bucket Challenge: 5 things you should know’, USA Today, viewed 9 May 2023, .

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How does Social Media Impact Reality TV Shows?

The introduction of reality TV has reshaped our world in this new emerging world. With the rise of social media, consumers have the great abilities to participate in this emerging culture compare to others. Participation TV communities has never like before, reality tv show fans are more than just viewers – they are producers of a participatory culture experience (Jenkins 2006).

For today’s topic, I am going to discuss one of my favorite reality TV shows called “Bling Empire” which is available on Netflix. This reality show is an American reality television series that focuses on the lives of wealthy, materialistic East and Southeast Asian Americans, socialites that based in Los Angeles, a real-life Crazy Rich Asians. Since the first released on Netflix 2021, “Bling Empire” has become an Asian American all-time favorite. As such, social media such as Instagram and Twitter were flooded with post discussions and interesting short reels about the content in “Bling Empire.”

I first notice this reality TV through Instagram reels that caught my interest and attention. Without denial, social media gives a major impact on the entertainment, especially on reality TV. The sharing of reels, memes and stickers are used as significant metrics of engagement with audience. Viewers can boost niche interests to relevance, prevent a streaming service from dropping a heavily syndicated show. Viewers on social media can recap highlights or summary through social media platforms which amplifies reach, to create a wider impact and potentially attracts new viewers to the shows.

Apart from that, reality TV casts often gain a significant following on social media during and after their appearances on the shows. They can gain more followers, especially contestant that sparks chaos and extremely famous TV show. Audiences have come to enjoy the crass dialogue and dramatic behavior from reactionary, caricature-like castmates. For instances, one of the cast Kim have reviewed that she felt grateful and excited that filled with loaded messages on Instagram, express their excitement towards Kim (Sun 2022).

With the influence of social media, users can engage in real-time conversation and share their favorite moments in the show, that delivers positive and negative feedbacks to the producer. Therefore, competition for audiences could be competitive where arguably pushed televisions producers to seek new innovative ways to keep their audience engaged. For instances, ‘Bling Empire” season 2 is even more exciting than season 1 where it returned with all the drama, gossip, catfights, and familial friendship that viewers have grown to love. The cast inside “Bling Empire” knows their game, where gossip is almost a form of currency on the show.

In my opinion, “Bling Empire eventually portrays the Asian’s culture. In most Asian families, gossips could spark easily even though with strong relationship bond which makes the reason that audience find this show so alluring. Audience can connect and feel as the show cast members, as part of their family, whispering and gossiping along with them.

To conclude, these developments have coincided with the rise of social media over the last 15 years, resulting in increased individual power and agency due to various social media platforms' communicative and connective capacities. Individuals' ability to connect online more quickly and instantly has engendered a sense of collective power, especially when these individuals can identify and group together around a shared interest, such as the fandom of a television show.

References:

Sun, J 2022, ‘The Glamour and Gossip of “Bling Empire” Expand Asians American Stories’, Mochi Magazine, viewed 11 May 2023, .

Jenkins, H 2006, ‘Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide’, New York: NYU Press, viewed 10 May 2023

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Tumblr as the Confident Space for Feminist Voice

Tumblr provides a space for people to share and discuss whatever topics that is ongoing on their minds. Whereas this platform is not as famous and compatible compare to other social media such as Instagram or Facebook. The beauty of Tumblr is where users are allowed to be anonymous creator, and which Tumblr personal profiles does not exist and neither do friends. This provides users to present their ideas without expose their identity (Keller 2019, p.7). I do own a Tumblr account and choose the most suitable niche of content which I am interested in. Users are allowed to express their ideas and share their opinion without any gatekeeper’s restrictions. Therefore, a public sphere has appeared in digital communities with the rise of Tumblr.

Firstly, to mention, Tumblr do provide a sense of anonymity as the platform is private and under a safe zone. Users are free to publish their content and opinions without expose real-name identity which will cause troubles. Tumblr is indeed famous among young people, where the topics are customized and niche with rich of interesting topics. Especially topics that revolves around feminist ideologies, LGBTQ are often engaging on Tumblr. Why do so? Instagram and Facebook have a wider audience, but choose Tumblr as the platform to upload discussion.

In fact, Jessalynn Keller found out that “teenage girls are wise in choosing platforms that are able to interact with feminist politics online,” surround issues like privacy, community, and peer support (Keller n.d.). For instance, Jessalynn have also explored topics on Digital Feminist Activism, encourage girls and women to fight back against rape culture. Throughout the whole questionnaires of survey, Tumblr were described as the most active and safest platform for girls to express their problems and thoughts on this topic. Mobilize digital technologies are used as an activist tool to speak, network, and organize against rape culture and misogyny.

In my opinion, Tumblr has formed a digital community that is naturally different from other social media platforms. The platform has slowly shifted to expressing ideas and engaging in discussions with others who share similar interests. Tumblr further emphasized its ethos and describes the platform as “where your interest connects with your people” (Tumblr 2020). As such, Rowan Blanchard, a Tumblr user learns that she can utilize the platform to voice out because of the privileges she is afforded.

References:

Keller, J 2019, ‘“Oh, she’s a Tumblr Feminist”: Exploring the Platform Vernacular of Girls’ Social Media Feminisms’, Social Media + Society, vol. 5, no. 3

Boyd, D 2012, ‘Participating in The Always-On Lifestyle’, in M Mandiberg (ed.), The Social Media Reader, New York University Press, New York, pp. 71-76. 

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Social Media as the New Form of Public Sphere

Social theory explains an analytical of framework that use to examine social phenomena. The term of ‘social theory�� reflects the ideas about how societies changed and developed, explain on social behavior, about power, age, gender, and ethnicity. Whereas, the idea of public sphere can be described as the priority in social life where public opinion can be formed (Habermas 1991, 398). Habermas declares public sphere is a space that opens to all citizens and constituted in every conversation which gather individual to form a public. The term 'public sphere' refers to a "social space in which different opinions are expressed, problems of general concern are discussed, and communicative solutions to collective problems are developed" (Wisler & Freudenthaler, 2018).

The Internet as a new public sphere can facilitate the discussion that promotes the exchanging of new ideas and opinions. (Papacharissi, 2002, p. 11). The use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube has increased the exchange of ideas and interaction between individuals. The published content on social media is accessible from anywhere in the world, removing physical and infrastructure barriers, implying that freedom of expression now includes freedom of the press and, as a result, freedom to gather.

The Facebook School of Athens (Redesigned from Raphael)

This reality has completely changed since the internet's social media revolution. People began to become individual information sources, and they became a part of a community of limitless sharing. That broke the "ancient information order" chains. It is obvious that when social media platforms first appeared, there was a lot of optimism about the future of the public sphere. The social media effect was viewed as a critical solution to mass media problems under authoritarian governments and large corporations (Arslan 2019).

As such, social media finally broke the public sphere where liberal democracies work to recreate a share of identity online. The social media account for the Ex- President of U.S., Donald Trump have been locked to prevent him from posting messages on his 88 million followers on Twitter, after he published a string of inaccurate and inflammatory messages on a day of violence in the national’s capital. Mr. Trump's account would be locked for 12 hours, according to Twitter, and the ban could be extended if several of his tweets that rejected the election results and appeared to incite violence were not deleted. Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League expresses that “we know the social media companies have been lackadaisical best,” “freedom of expression is not the freedom to incite violence. That is not protected speech” (Conger, Hsu, Mac 2022).

In my opinion, although social media have become the new form of the public sphere that allows netizens to express their opinions and comments, they are encouraged to choose their words wisely to avoid legal actions from social media companies or authorizations.

References:

Conger, K; Hsu, Tiffany; Mac, Ryan (November 1, 2022). "Elon Musk's Twitter Faces Exodus of Advertisers and Executives", The New York Times, viewed 11 May 2023, .

Habermas, J 1991, “The public sphere” In Mukerji, C.; Schudson, M.(Ed.): Rethinking popular culture. Contemporary perspectives in cultural studies. Berkeley/Los Angeles: University of California Press. pp.398-404.

Papacharissi, Z 2002, “The virtual sphere: the internet as a public sphere. new media & society, Vol.4 (1), 9- 27.

Arslan, A 2019, ‘Has social media changed the public sphere’? viewed 11 May 2023, .