Critical Resource Response #2: Emily

Emily N.

Word Count: 439

Social media has changed the lives of millions of people, but is that a positive thing or negative? For my critical response essay I chose to write about the Ted Talk, “Our Body Image and Social Media: Live Life Unfiltered” by Keisha and Teagan Simpson. In this essay I will argue that social media has created mental illnesses in young girls along with unrealistic body and life expectations. Along with the negative, there are also women on these apps that are trying to promote a more healthy and positive way of using social media.

Social media, especially instagram, has been linked to many cases of mental health issues such as, depression and anxiety, in young girls and it can even lead to suicide. In the Ted Talk, Keisha says, “The United Kingdom’s Royal Society for public health is concerned that social media may be fueling a mental health crisis. They link social media to the 70% increase in anxiety and depression over the past 25 years” (Keisha Simpson). Instagram is an easy place to compare yourself to other people. People usually post the highlights of their life, and when a young girl sees that she does not look like that, new insecurities will arise.

On instagram, many teenage girls want to appear as happy with a perfect body, perfect skin and perfect teeth. This is where the unrealistic body, beauty and life standards come in. There are so many new apps where we have the opportunity to alter the way we look to our followers online. “Young women are becoming addicted to altering the way they look” (Teagan Simpson). Photoshop is so unhealthy because it could promote depression, anxiety and eating disorders. When people get compliments on their “altered cyber self”, they actually feel more insecure because people are liking and commenting on a nonrealist picture of themselves.

People like Kiesha and Teagan Simpson are attempting to make instagram a healthy and safer space. With their instagram, “Live Life Unfiltered” they are promoting young girls and women to post pictures of themselves without a filter or photoshop. Their account is to remind women that we all have insecurities, bad days and pimples (Kiesha Simpsom). It is super important to remind young girls and women that we are not always who we present ourselves on instagram.

Kiera and Teagan Simpson saw an issue in society and took action. Although social media has increased mental health issues and unrealistic beauty standards in young girls, accounts like Live Life Unfiltered are promoting a healthier way to use social media.