What happened to beauty?

Society changes as times change. Our desires shift as our views shift. So what role does social media play in all this? And more specifically, how has social media changed society’s image of “beauty”?
While many are under the impression that social media was intended to promote global communication and the spread of knowledge, is it really the most effective way? “Social media is used to market products, promote brands, connect to current customers and foster new business.” We all know this and yet we can see society shifting under the influence of social media.
So when your favorite Youtuber promotes a product that they “genuinely love and use all the time,” or a beauty guru “honestly” reviews a new makeup item and coincidentally has a commission code, how genuine or honest are they?
While social media has its benefits, has it benefited the people or the businesses? Some may say it benefits both. Some may even say it is a necessary evil.
What are we going to say fifty years from now when we look back on all the people who injected their bodies with implants to look like their favorite celebrities? Or the people who refused to leave the house without moisturizer, primer, foundation, concealer, powders, contour, bronzer, highlighter, and setting spray simply because they looked up to beauty gurus and found themselves uncomfortable in their own skin? Has this gotten out of hand?

Of course people benefit from social media. Nothing benefits society like the spread of knowledge and information. Social media has changed many lives and offered so many job opportunities that did not exist before this era.
But when Kylie Jenner removes her lip injections, suddenly plastic surgeons post an advertisement to dissolve injections. Or when beauty influencers are posting themselves applying layers and layers of makeup, suddenly a flood of products are being marketed towards teens. How is this benefiting the people?
The power of social media is used to manipulate people’s images of beauty along with so many other things. Someday, those who were considered the great beauties of our generation will be manipulated to believe that they are monsters. Be conscious, be aware, and be vigilant. Beauty will forever be in the eyes of the beholder.

(This article was inspired by The Twilight Zone season 2 episode 6 “The Eye of the Beholder.”)
'Til next time friends,
Love and War