Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," as the proverb of repute goes. A number of studies conducted in the past few years strongly oppose this idea; studies that tend to define what an idealistic beauty is, to distinguish what makes someone appealing in the eyes of others and outline an objective standard for beauty, which seemingly involves facial symmetry, waist-to-hip or waist-to-chest ratio, body proportion, etc. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, beauty is the quality in a person that gives pleasure in the mind. "Perception and Deception: Human Beauty and the Brain" is a famous article published in April of 2019 AD, which is written by Daniel Yarosh, a retired researcher in the field of Behavioral Sciences located in New York, in which the author states beauty standards are set by human nature to seek reproductive health in others. Sculptures, murals and artworks portrayed curvaceous, thickset silhouettes, thousand years ago. In the past 20th century, thin, waif-like models occupied the pages of latest fashion magazines, which had drastically changed the idealistic beauty standards set in the society then. Whereas, shapely backsides are now glorified and acknowledged with "likes" on social media, which showcases that standards of beauty evolve over time.

In today's world, social media is seen as the place where people decide what is beautiful. In the past, newspapers and TV were important for trends, but now social media is more important because of technology. A study by Kepios showed that in April 2024, there were 5.07 billion social media users worldwide, which is 62.6% of the total population. This results in the reconcilable differences and disharmony in social media. Following this, the Indian Express, a well-known Indian newspaper in English, recently published an article about Prachi Nigam, a 15-year-old student who achieved first place in the 10th grade UP Board exams with a score of 98.50%. After her marks and photo went viral on social media, she became the target of online bullying and criticism about her looks. Many people gave her unsolicited advice. Reporters from news channels even visited her home, where she expressed her regret about being the top scorer due to the negative attention she received. This situation highlights the societal expectations and pressures related to physical appearance, as well as the harsh realities of social media interactions.

The unrealistic beauty standard also leads to objectification. For instance, beautiful student accounts are a common sight at universities across Indonesia. These accounts showcase photos that adhere to certain beauty standards set by the students themselves, garnering likes and comments from followers. With a growing number of followers, these accounts are able to make money through sponsored posts. However, this trend of posting selected student photos is criticised for treating women as mere objects for profit. Immanuel Kant's concept of objectification, as outlined in 1797, describes this devaluation of individuals into objects. This objectification can have negative effects on one's mental health, leading to self-surveillance issues. Feminist theory argues that women who experience visual objectification internalise these standards and base their self-worth on physical appearance. The photos shared on these student accounts promote an unrealistic beauty standard perpetuated by social media.

A recent study conducted by the Dove Self-Esteem Project, which involved surveying over 1,000 girls aged 10-17, found that 50% of girls believe that harmful beauty advice on social media leads to a decrease in self-esteem. Additionally, 90% of girls admitted to following at least one social media account that made them feel less attractive. The report highlights how many girls struggle to meet the unrealistic beauty standards portrayed on social media.Examples of harmful beauty standards and advice online include hashtags like #Thinspo, which glorifies extremely thin bodies while discouraging eating. Moreover, normalising costly and risky procedures like fillers, injectables, butt lifts, breast augmentation, and nose jobs can have detrimental effects on young people's body confidence. Statistics from the National Eating Disorders Association reveal that 5.2% of females meet the criteria for disorders like anorexia nervosa, or binge eating disorder. Negative body image affects individuals of all ages, with 31% of teenagers and 35% of adults experiencing feelings of depression or shame due to their body image perception.Body image is influenced by various factors, including societal standards, media representation, and personal experiences. Low self-esteem can lead to detrimental effects on a person's life, as individuals may feel unworthy and struggle to pursue new opportunities in their personal and professional lives.

Moreover, the impractical and unrealistic beauty standards develop various mental and physical health problems including depression, eating disorders, etc. The societal pressure and provocation to look a certain way that makes one fit onto an objective standard of beauty can be staggering for many individuals. Thus, it is crucial for society to challenge existing toxic beauty standards and promote body positivity. Such milestones can be achieved by presenting diverse culture, body shapes, beauty, etc. in the media, educating the youth about its negative impacts. The creation of a new culture, which values inner beauty and individuality can help combat the harmful effect of toxic beauty standards and promote a healthier attitude towards the body. We all can work together towards building a compassionate and inclusive society where everyone feels worthy and beautiful.

References: 

• Foy, C., & Foy, C. (2023, June 9). Unrealistic beauty standards, mental health, and their Eye-Catching relationship. FHE Health. https://fherehab.com/learning/beauty-standards-mental-health

• Syarifah, M., Nurjanah, D. P., Atikah, N., & Syarif, A. Z. M. (2022). Deconstruction of Women’s Beauty Standard on Social Media: An Analysis Corresponding author*. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361843120_Deconstruction_of_Women's_Beauty_Sta

• Syarifah, Ma'Isyatusy & Nurjanah, Dewi & Atikah, Nur & Syarif, Ahmad. (2022). Deconstruction of Women's Beauty Standard on Social Media: An Analysis Corresponding author*. 

• Author, D. (2022, October 31). Toxic beauty standards on social media: The stats – Dove. Dove. https://www.dove.com/us/en/stories/campaigns/social-media-and-body-image.html