PSYCHOLOGY ▼

Photo editing: enhancing social media

images to reflect appearance ideals
Many of the images used in traditional forms of mass media have been modified to portray unrealistic and
idealised beauty characteristics. Further to this, members of the general public have now begun to digitally
enhance their own pictures for social media posts, in order to fulfil these often unattainable standards.
Ella Guest explores the impact exposure to idealised images of peers may have on health and wellbeing

P
eople are now becoming increasingly Edited images have been reported to this, members of the general population
aware of the extent to which most encourage men and women to compare have now begun altering their own social
mass media images are edited to themselves to heavily enhanced and media images in an attempt to fulfil these
reflect enhanced western beauty often physically unachievable appearance appearance ideals (Yao et al, 2016).
ideals. Although the negative impact these ideals, which can have a serious negative
unachievable appearance standards can impact on their wellbeing (Levine and From specialist software
have on wellbeing is recognised, and there Murnen, 2009; Fernandez and Pritchard, to social media
have been attempts to reduce people’s 2012). Exposure to these images in the Social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter
exposure to them, there is now a more media has been associated with increased and Instagram, are becoming increasingly
complex problem at hand. Photo-editing body dissatisfaction (Groesz et al, 2002; popular around the world (Fardouly et al,
software is now available to almost anyone, Halliwell et al, 2011), low social self- 2015). In the UK, social networking alone
and many social media users have begun esteem (Fernandez and Pritchard, 2012) accounts for over 50% of all internet use
to alter their own images to reflect these and body image-related anxiety (Tucci (Office for National Statistics, 2015).
desirable beauty ideals. For this reason, and Peters, 2008; Swami et al, 2010; Although social media sites facilitate
health professionals need to be aware of Owen and Spencer, 2013). Additionally, communication between peer networks
the prevalence of photo editing, and the internalisation of the thin ideal in females (Boyd and Ellison, 2007), one of the most
potential negative effects of exposure to has been found to contribute to unhealthy common reasons for use is sharing personal
idealised images of peers on social media. diet and exercise behaviours and, in some photos (Yao et al, 2016). For instance,
cases, the development of eating disorders over 10 million photographs are uploaded to
Photo-editing culture (Thompson and Stice, 2001). On the whole, Facebook every hour (Mayer-Schönberger
and mass media these images can give individuals unrealistic and Cukier, 2013). These photos are used
Over the past 20 years, digitally altering expectations of beauty, ultimately leading frequently for making appearance-related
images using photo-editing software has to dissatisfaction with their appearance social comparisons, especially by women
become increasingly common in traditional when they cannot be achieved. (Haferkamp et al, 2012).
forms of mass media (Jones, 2013). In In an attempt to reduce the negative Increasingly, social media users evaluate
fact, almost all of images of celebrities effects of these images, the UK, France, and their appearance based on photographs
and models in magazines and adverts are Israel have advocated the use of disclaimer of their peers, rather than models or
digitally modified to reflect society’s beauty labels on heavily edited media images celebrities (Fardouly et al, 2015). In addition,
ideals (Jones, 2013). Women often appear (Tiggemann et al, 2013). However, labelling social media also allows users to actively
slim with full breasts, and men are given images has been found to draw more contribute to social comparisons by sharing
enhanced muscular physiques (Ricciardelli attention to enhanced areas of the body, their own photos, which often present
et al, 2010). The eyes and mouth may also further increasing body dissatisfaction in desirable ‘online versions’ of themselves
be enlarged, skin airbrushed to remove some individuals (Bury et al, 2016). (Seidman, 2013).
blemishes or signs of ageing, and hair made Using a different approach, Sadiq Khan, A substantial amount of research has
thicker (Dove Self-Esteem Project, 2013). the Mayor of London, has prohibited examined the effects of social media use
all adverts promoting unrealistic female in general, often using women and young
appearance ideals on London transport girls. These studies have revealed social
© 2016 MA Healthcare Ltd

ELLA GUEST (BBC News, 2016). Theoretically, preventing media use to be associated with body
Research Associate, Centre exposure to this kind of media could reduce image concerns (Tiggemann and Slater,
for Appearance Research, body dissatisfaction; however, some argue 2013), negative mood (Fardouly et al, 2015)
University of the West that people have been subjected to edited and the development of eating disorders
of England, Bristol. images in popular culture for so long that (Holland and Tiggemann, 2016), especially
e: Ella.Guest@uwe.ac.uk
they have become normalised. Because of in those who regularly make appearance

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 ▼ PSYCHOLOGY

comparisons (Leahey et al, 2007). Research

Adobe Stock/ Syda Productions

findings therefore suggest that exposure to
social media affects individuals similarly to
that of mass media.
Given the appearance-related nature of
social media, and the increasing availability
of amateur photo-editing software (Yao et al,
2016), it is unsurprising that many users are
now altering their own images to reflect the
appearance ideals portrayed in traditional
forms of mass media (Manago et al, 2008;
Zhao et al, 2008). Some social media sites
even facilitate photo enhancement (e.g.
Snapchat includes camera filters specifically
designed to enhance beauty).

Prevalence of photo editing

The prevalence of photo editing on
social media is not well-documented;
however, a survey by the Renfrew Center
Foundation (2014) revealed that over 50% of
the 2000 adults they surveyed had
previously edited their social media images
in some way. Additionally, 70% of women,
and over 50% of men aged 18–35 years
reported editing their images regularly. This
included removing blemishes, altering skin Over the past 20 years, digitally altering images using photo-editing software has become
tone and making themselves look thinner. increasingly common in traditional forms of mass media, such as magazines and adverts
These numbers may be a cause for concern
because evidence suggests that exposure to (Kirschner and Karpinski, 2010; Woods positive results with school-aged boys and
idealised images of peers on social media and Scott, 2016). At a time when self- girls in the UK (Bird et al, 2013).
is also associated with increased body identity is forming, using social media to
dissatisfaction in both males and females understand societal beauty standards may
(Krones et al, 2005; Haferkamp and Krämer, create additional pressure for young people
2011). Moreover, idealised images of peers to alter their images (Krayer et al, 2007). Key points
may cause greater body dissatisfaction than This may be particularly harmful because ►► The majority of images people are
exposure to mass media images (Ferguson adolescence is a time when body image exposed to in the mass media have been
et al, 2014; Fardouly et al, 2015). This is concerns and disordered eating often starts digitally altered to reflect enhanced
thought to be because mass media pictures to develop, especially in females (Campbell western beauty ideals
are perceived to be fictional, whereas the and Peebles, 2014; Voelker et al, 2015). ►► Exposure to heavily edited media images
appearance of a peer seems more real and can lead to a number of appearance
achievable, thus adding more pressure for Interventions to promote concerns, such as body dissatisfaction,
an individual to achieve a similar look to fit positive body image low social self-esteem and body
in socially (Ferguson et al, 2014). On a more positive note, several evidence- image-related anxiety
Findings from these studies illustrate based interventions have been developed ►► Many individuals are now editing their
how important it is for health professionals with a view to reduce social comparisons own images to reflect appearance ideals
to be aware of the negative impact and body dissatisfaction, by promoting before sharing them on social media
social media may have on an individual’s healthy body image and increasing media ►► Being exposed to idealised images of
psychosocial wellbeing. This is especially literacy surrounding unrealistic media one’s peers on social media might be
relevant to young people, who make up the images. These interventions, such as the worse for an individual’s body image than
© 2016 MA Healthcare Ltd

largest group of social media users, with Dove Self-Esteem Project (2010) and the exposure to figures in the mass media.
over 90% reportedly using social media Succeed Body Image Programme (Becker This could be because there is more
everyday (Duggan and Smith, 2013). and Stice, 2011), have been found to be pressure to fit in socially with peers, and
Additionally, research has discovered that effective with adolescent girls and young their appearance may be perceived as
many adolescents consider social media women. Another initiative, Happy Being more real and achievable
to be an integral part of their social lives Me (Richardson and Paxton, 2010), has had

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 PSYCHOLOGY ▼

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