Symmetrical faces to smile lines: Social media filters distort teens self esteem

Journalist Georgina Sebar edits an image of her face to match the social media beauty trends over the past 18 months.

Transcript

00:00The beauty trend cycle is moving faster than ever thanks to the relentless feedback loop that is social media.

00:07Makeup tutorials, filters, editing apps and even cosmetic surgery make it easy to change your look.

00:14This is my face, unfiltered and unedited.

00:18Let's see how it changes based on the most popular trends of the last 18 months.

00:24In late 2022, lip lifts were a popular way to get the desired short gap between the nose and mouth.

00:31In early 2023, buccal fat removal was all the rage.

00:35By the middle of the year, however, the trends were more concerned with having a perfectly symmetrical face.

00:40Then, they encouraged facial exercises and gua sha to remove smile lines.

00:45Before Nicola Coughlin's performance in season 3 of Bridgerton brought back rounded cheeks.

00:50Experts say following a diverse range of bodies on social media can make you less susceptible to the ever-changing beauty standards.

00:57People just aren't as conscious of the improvements in technology that allow us to change a person's appearance as they move.

01:04There is a lot of research showing that viewing ideal images can be harmful.

01:10I have made a conscious effort to stop using face-altering filters.

01:14I thought, if I can't see myself without a filter, what damage am I doing to other people if that's the only image I'm portraying?

01:21It's really interesting. I think when I post a photo that's been taken on a photo shoot,

01:25that never performs as well as an image where I don't have any makeup on and it's me being completely raw.

01:32So I think that just goes to show how much more the real content resonates with people.