Before uploading a photo of ourselves to social media, chances are that we'll use an app to smooth our skin, make our eyes look bigger, and lips fuller. With a couple of taps on our mobile phone, we can get a quick fix and present the "best" version of ourselves to the world. However, the problem is, when we simply edit our imperfections away,we're also changing the way we look at ourselves.
Last month, researchers published the article Selfies—Living in the Era of Filtered(过滤的) Photographs. The article analysed photo editing apps' bad influences on people's self-respect and their possibility to cause appearance anxieties. The researchers also warned that such apps make it difficult to tell the difference between reality and fantasy. "These apps allow one to change his or her appearance in minutes and follow an unrealistic standard of beauty," the article reads.
In the past, people may have compared their looks to those of famous people. But for today's young people, beauty standards are most likely set by what they see on social media. "From birth, they are born into an age of social platforms where their feelings of self-worth can be based purely on the number of likes and followers that they have, which is linked to how good they look," British cosmetic doctor Tijion Esho told The Independent. This is why many young people suffer an identity trouble when it comes to appearance.
"Now you've got this daily comparison of your real self to this fake self that you present on social media," Renee Engeln, a professor of psychology, told the HuffPost website. Engeln further pointed out that when people spend too much time making such comparisons, they may become "beauty sick" and find it difficult to accept what they actually look like. "Because between you and the world is a mirror. It's a mirror that travels with you everywhere. You can't seem to put it down," she told The Washington Post. So when we look in a real mirror, we shouldn't think to ourselves, "Do I look as good as myself in the filtered photos?" Instead, we should think, "I feel good; I have my health."
In 2012, an iPhone fell into my hands. This smart technology seemed like the entrance to only fun and positive things like chatting with friends and blogging.
However, seven years later, I had become horribly limited to it. Recent reports show that I'm not alone. According to a study, the average American spends five hours a day on smart devices and about 2.5 of those hours are spent on social, messaging, media and entertainment apps.
It's hard to explain when the love and joy I felt for my iPhone turned into a dependency. I fell asleep to my phone every night and woke to it each morning. I checked the weather app every morning before I chose how to dress for the day. I used it to help me find my way through a city I should know well enough on my own. I updated my email box every time I picked my phone up.
Just like with any addiction, my phone dependency began to influence my life. While spending time with family, I'd stare into a small screen on my lap instead of being involved in communicating with my loved ones. At work, my productivity levels dropped. And then, my four-year relationship came to an end. Eventually, I was left with years of memories and a mobile phone that couldn't provide enjoyable company across a dinner table, share in the joys of experiencing a concert or kiss me goodnight before bed.
Now, I move through life with more purpose and intention. I've cut back on carelessly giving away my limited time and attention to my phone. Instead, I focus my efforts on being as present as possible. Truly training the mind to stay present is a long and challenging road, but it's important to start somewhere.
I hope you'll take a deep look at your own phone habits and reevaluate how important a role you are letting it play in your life. Whether or not you've reached a place in your life where your screen time feels problematic, there's no harm in mindfully giving your current practices some thought.
