SOCIAL MEDIA – A WORLD OF APPEARANCE

The Internet is definitely the most important social revolution of recent times and the appearance of social networks has changed our lives, the way we deal with others, our way of thinking and our behaviours.

An important issue, regarding social media, is the contrast between appearance and reality and the consequences that follow.

In social media like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok  it is possible to show every moment of our daily life: what we usually eat, the book we are reading, what we are studying, if we are hanging out with our friends or dating with somebody.

The purpose of these virtual networks and communities is to show our real lives, but when we look at the profiles of “influencers”, or in general public figures, everything we see is their perfect lives, dream holidays, healthy breakfasts and sculpted bodies.

Social media create a sort of “world of appearance” in which everyone competes to be better than others,  as if they are eager to receive the prize for the best life, the best body and the most luxurious holidays.

What does this mean for ordinary people?

Lots of them feel unsatisfied, inadequate, and particularly insecure about themselves.

Instagram also makes girls and women feel as if their bodies are never good enough. Their lack of confidence can deeply affect their mental health and frequently they develop eating disorders.

This is due to standards of beauty which are too far from reality and often unachievable. In addition, famous people commonly modify their photos with Photoshop and they use filters to cover all their defects.

However, I am glad that recently some movements that encourage positive messages have been created. The most famous is “Body Positivity’’. It promotes a positive message dedicated to those who have a body that doesn’t fit the standards established by society, and it is  against the restrictive standards of beauty imposed by social media.  What’s more, this platform is also open to other individuals: coloured people, people with disabilities, disfigured people, transgender people, that is to say, all those people who are not on magazine covers, in films, on TV or on posters.  Thanks to “Body Positivity’’ they can have visibility.

Visibility is very important because when a body differs from “the ideal one” it means that body is somehow considered different. If a certain kind of physical aspect is classified as beautiful, the conclusion is that every other isn’t!

Lots of celebrities belong to this movement: for example, the singer Lizzo and, as to the fashion world, there are some famous curvy models like Ashley Graham, Candice Huffine, Tess Holliday and many others.

The hastag #bodypositivity is always on trend on social media  as well as  #socialmediaisfake.

A couple of months ago I saw a post on Instagram by Aurora Ramazzotti. In that photo she was completely “natural”, without filters or make-up, and she was showing different acne marks and spots on her face.  I was positively impressed by the caption of her post: she affirmed that posting a photo like that was something brave nowadays and she wanted to encourage people not to compare themselves to others because we are all beautiful in our own way.

I agree with her without doubt.  Furthermore, I think that all the small imperfections that characterize each of us make us unique and inimitable. Perfection doesn’t exist and I hope that one day we all will realize it.

Elisa Tranquilli,  5^C Linguistico