We are all familiar with the thousands of filters and edits that can be added to any photo. Instagram and VSCO accounts are full of pictures with numerous filters and edits applied. But why had this trend led to people excessively editing and sometimes photoshopping their pictures?
There are numerous apps that iPhone and Android users can download to edit the pictures they have taken of themselves and others. These apps allow people to add filters, whiten teeth, make certain objects in the photo blurry or more enhanced, or fully erase objects or people from the photo.
Unfortunately, society has set unrealistic standards for what people’s bodies should look like. This has led to individuals becoming victims of eating disorders and having negative perceptions of their body.
Companies use different photoshopping and editing applications in order to make their brands and models look a specific way. As a result of the photoshopping and editing of models displaying clothing or other products, consumers end up holding unrealistic expectations.
Since society has set a certain standard for body types, people have begun to lean to apps that allow them to edit and change the way they look.
Jasmine Rose, a junior social work major said, “I think photoshopping can cause a lot of mental distress for people. It paints an unrealistic portrait of reality that [is] unattainable for most people.”
According to PBS, in November 2020 Instagram took away the ability for others to see how many likes one has gotten on a photo for those in the United States. They had previously done this in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, and several other countries. Instagram took this step because people were obsessing over the amount of likes they were receiving on the photos they were posting.
The mental toll that the “Like” component of Instagram has created leads people to feel as if their appearance is being judged and encourages them to edit their photos by adding filters or using tools to transform their bodies.
Martin Jackson, a junior political science and history major said, “I think that people use photoshop and editing to exhibit the best version of themselves which at times takes away from the blemishes and bruises that show us the realism of life.”
Some people believe that it is wrong to excessively edit a photo because it does not display the actual person in the photo. However, people are able to make the decision to edit or not edit a photo even if the edits and filters drastically change their appearance.
“Those who photoshop and use excessive filters usually use for personal gain socially,” Bre Taff, a sophomore special education major said. “I don’t use photoshop or filters mainly because it takes a lot of work.”
When using editing tools and photoshopping apps it’s important to remember that comparing ourselves and our lives to others is something that is hard to not to do, but we are all different and unique in our own way which is worth celebrating.
“I can’t deny that I’ve used it here and there and I’d say social media heavily weighed on my decision to use it, but I have found that portraying your true self is the best option,” Jackson said.
Photo by Emma Crouch
