Social media and vanity among young people

[dseag2]

Okay, so most of us have been vain at some point in our lives. Heck, just wanting to look "put together" qualifies.

However, it seems social media is creating hyper-vanity among people, especially young women. They all seem to now use a "filter" to make themselves look as pretty as possible on Instagram or some other site. What's scary is that I saw a news article recently about young women going under the knife to look more like their social media pics in real life. This seems to have become a competition and an obsession.

I posted earlier about the big false eyelashes that may look good on Instagram but look ridiculous in real life. Some young women I see these days have makeup that would make a drag queen blush. I've noticed makeup stores popping up everywhere.

I guess my question is, how are they going to handle aging? What happens when they hit 50 or 60 and aren't so glamorous anymore? I guess by that time plastic surgeons will have learned how to make them look 20 again. Where there's demand...

 

[Jeni]

I guess my question is, how are they going to handle aging? What happens when they hit 50 or 60 and aren't so glamorous anymore? I guess by that time plastic surgeons will have learned how to make them look 20 again. Where there's demand...

My guess is they will have snapped by nervous breakdowns by 35.
in real life most of these folks look like clowns on parade.
If anyone has seen some photos capture of some celebrities without makeup etc the skin does not age well under layers of makeup / auto paint what ever they are using.


The artificial expectation is sad and depressing to me. I guess expectations will fuel addiction or alcoholism.
BUt it seems as if very few mature past 14 anymore maybe they will just cry in their parents basement.

 

[Ruthanne]

I saw where a lot of working women are getting botox, etc. because they have lots of meetings on Zoom where you can see all the lines and wrinkles. And they want to look better I guess.

It's hard for women with always being judged for what they look like by everyone. The media shows young, more beautiful women all the time on tv and magazines. Some women compare themselves and try to live up to that. At the dating sites there is always someone who looks better and so many to choose from so women try to look their best---all for Love!

I've had to put up with that nonsense all of my life. I was a pretty nice looking woman when younger but never even realized it because I was always comparing myself to everyone else. That's what this society does to us women. There is a lot of pressure on us. Personally, I'm tired of the pressure of it all.

Fortunately there are some who love women just as they are without make up and not as glamorous looking. There are so many though who are just constantly judging women and men, too, I guess on how they look mostly. Social media has made it really crazy, too.

I guess it's going to be hard for a lot of women to age. I'm not having the best time of it with being old and trying to still find someone to date. Everyone has some kind of standard of what they expect someone to look like and if you don't look that way you lose. It's really awful I must say.

When a woman gets old lots of men think of them as something to throw away if she's not perfect by their beauty standards. There are a lot of men too who won't even look at women past a certain age. We need a break!

 

[dseag2]

Yes, my mother went through that. She was a beautiful young woman who was 10 years younger than my father and was always asked if she was his daughter. She never worked and was always his "arm candy" for social events. It hit her hard when she aged, since she felt she was no longer living up to her responsibilities. She went into a deep clinical depression and didn't actually improve until my father passed away. She no longer felt she had to live up to his standards and probably lived her best life for the next 21 years. Very sad, but it happens.

I have a lovely friend who is a young 70 y/o. She is divorced and has given up on the dating scene. She spends time with her grandkids and travels by herself. She worked for me for many years, and we've become confidants. I'm joining her in the Caribbean for vacation early next month. I know where you are coming from, Ruthanne, and it is unfortunate.

 

[Ruthanne]

Yes, my mother went through that. She was a beautiful young woman who was 10 years younger than my father and was always asked if she was his daughter. She never worked and was always his "arm candy" for social events. It hit her hard when she aged, since she felt she was no longer living up to her responsibilities. She went into a deep clinical depression and didn't actually improve until my father passed away. She no longer felt she had to live up to his standards and probably lived her best life for the next 21 years. Very sad, but it happens.

I have a lovely friend who is a young 70 y/o. She is divorced and has given up on the dating scene. She spends time with her grandkids and travels by herself. She worked for me for many years, and we've become confidants. I'm joining her in the Caribbean for vacation early next month. I know where you are coming from, Ruthanne, and it is unfortunate.

Thanks, it does suck for sure. I just seek others who like me as I am---not easy to find but they are still out there. I've got to believe that at least.

I'm sorry your mom went through that!

 

[Ladybj]

Okay, so most of us have been vain at some point in our lives. Heck, just wanting to look "put together" qualifies.

However, it seems social media is creating hyper-vanity among people, especially young women. They all seem to now use a "filter" to make themselves look as pretty as possible on Instagram or some other site. What's scary is that I saw a news article recently about young women going under the knife to look more like their social media pics in real life. This seems to have become a competition and an obsession.

I posted earlier about the big false eyelashes that may look good on Instagram but look ridiculous in real life. Some young women I see these days have makeup that would make a drag queen blush. I've noticed makeup stores popping up everywhere.

I guess my question is, how are they going to handle aging? What happens when they hit 50 or 60 and aren't so glamorous anymore? I guess by that time plastic surgeons will have learned how to make them look 20 again. Where there's demand...

Unfortunately, they all will not be able to afford plastic surgery. I wear very little make up. Hubby and I were talking about makeup tonight. He said I did not notice you wear make up.. I told him that's because I wear very little. He said you do very well. I have good genes... I thank my mom.. may she RIP.

 

[RFW]

I still see good parenting as key to all these social media trends.
Children need to be guided but also taught the ability to know what's right and wrong and decide for themselves accordingly. I never agree with banning or limiting access to the internet. My boys were taught that way and they knew I was always open to new things and was never mad at them when they made mistakes and encouraged them to not repeat those mistakes.
When GTA 3 first came out, they were hooked. I sat and watched them play while commenting on what was going on in the game and what they were doing. One thing the game taught them by showing is when you kill a civilian in the game, the police give chase and won't stop until you hide somewhere secluded or they kill you. Combined with what they already knew, which was in real life, just one bullet can kill you, not to mention the consequences, they came to a conclusion that these things they could do in the game were not realistic and just escapism.

I know it's difficult for parents these days when they're trying to make ends meet and don't have enough time for parenting. But it doesn't change the fact that parenting is very important. The problem is the lack of parenting we keep seeing is a symptom of a larger problem.