MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

The pressure to adhere to strict beauty standards has been a constant source of stress for women, impacting their self-esteem and, in some cases, leading to eating disorders. In the past, women were aware of the mechanisms of media manipulation: celebrities were airbrushed in magazines, and models are unhealthily skinny. In the social media age, this perception has been warped by the ever-present stream of images directed at young women. With the rise of Instagram and Instagram “Influencers” has come a rise in eating disorders; the number of young women with eating disorders has doubled since the 1960’s (Daw). In previous decades there were only a few media sources promoting unrealistic beauty standards; now, these images are everywhere. The Facetune app allows users to alter images: tanning themselves, smoothing their skin, and editing their body shape like a professional digital editor. Many Influencers use this app to edit their photos. They may also employ apps that put a “skinny filter” on videos—creating living, breathing fully fictional images. Often these Influencers promote a dangerous and toxic lie, claiming that their digitally-enhanced appearance is due to “fit-teas,” tummy wraps, or skinny pills. These items are glorified laxatives that may have dire physical consequences. They are sold to young impressionable women with a false promise: “If you spend $40 on this product, you will look like me.” The Influencers pretend to share personal beauty secrets, but they are actually paid pitch-people whose glamorous lifestyle is financed by their revenue from these sponsors. The Influencers are reinforced by celebrities like Khloe Kardashian and Cardi B who market similar products, normalizing their use and lending them glamor. My paper discusses the link between Instagram Influencers and rising eating disorders through their use of apps like Facetune and their promotion of unhealthy products and practices.