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nypost
“For teens [in particular], looking good (as defined by norms of one’s social group and the rules of social engagement) is almost always a priority,” Dr. Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center, told The Post. “It used to be a question of not wanting to get caught out in public not looking good; the reach of what’s public has shifted.”
We all want to look good. How we define "good" is a question of values. The emphasis on the visual as a value is amplified by, but not invented by, social media. It is how a primary way that people, especially young people, connect today. Rather than blame the tools (always a popular solution as it absolves us of any responsibility), let's recognize this shift as an opportunity to deal with the real issues that drive this vulnerability--identity and self-worth--and focus on the values behind them. Social media may trigger vulnerabilities but it can also spread new ways of seeing beauty and changing the discussion to what matters--what we do, not how we look. Don't celebrate Alicia Keys for going make-up free--although that's awesome-- but it keeps the conversation on how she looks. What matters is her amazing artistic achievements and positive (and enduring) contributions to popular culture. Puffed lips, as with all trends, aren't sustainable.