Page 9 - Boca ViewPointe - October '23

October 2023 Viewpointe, Page 9
Social Media Beauty Standards

By Lisa Capoccia, Yet another aspect to these unrealistic beauty standards
an 8th grade student who lives in Palladium that social media presents, is that no one’s body is the same.
So even when you’re the same age as the people you see
A timeless problem with a 21st century twist is affecting online, you really will never look exactly how someone
teens everywhere. you see on the Internet does. Social media apps show us
Coming from a middle school girl in your local community, one specific body type and being realistic most people will
I have witnessed and experienced the degrading effects of never be able to look like that. People young and old need
social media in young people’s lives. to see a wider variety of people online. Diversity is the best
No kid my age wants to admit it, but we do know that social way to show people that the way they look is beautiful.
media has changed so much about us. For me personally, it Issues and insecurities with body image have been going on
has changed how I spend my afternoons after school, how I forever. The difference between the models in the magazines
process events in my life, the clothes I wear, the words I use, older. A twelve year old should never be compared to an of kids in the ’90s and the influencers on social media today
but more than anything, social media has changed my own adult, but through social media, children feel pressured, is the amount of content that is taken in every day. While past
perception of myself. and will try to start looking like what someone seven teens couldn’t buy a hundred magazines every single day, in
No matter what social media app I or any other person in years older than them looks like. It goes beyond what the digital age it is possible to scroll forever, and see thousands
the world open, they will be opening it to discover pictures and they wear, although that is a big part of it, little girls and of pictures online in a matter of hours. Another difference is
videos of other people. A lot of times, especially for teenagers, boys spend hours staring at what they want to look like, magazines focussed on models and celebrities while on social
social media feeds seem to be filled with the most attractive which is presently unattainable. media you may see a perfectly average kid that you think is
people in the world. When you see someone you think is so It is to no one’s surprise that body image would be the perfect compared to your own body.
much prettier than you, it is hard to ignore it. We start creating number one thing affected in these situations. As much as There is no simple solution to body image issues and
these standards for ourselves that are completely unrealistic. But, a middle schooler wants to, their body will never look like there is no way to fully shelter teens from the Internet. What
it isn’t unrealistic because if she looks like that, why can’t I? a high schooler’s that they see online. But when kids of the I have personally witnessed to be the best cure is validation
Well the truth is we’ll probably never look like the opposite gender are seeing the same videos, they will also and compliments. A little goes a long way in our eyes. So
girls we spend all day staring at. These days, it is normal expect the kids in their class to look like that, and that’s even though we won’t be able to stop seeing these standards
for children to have social media by the age of twelve, or where the bullying starts. No one’s body should ever be on social media, maybe we can start seeing them through
even earlier, and usually influencers are going to be a lot commented on, let alone discussed at such a young age. different eyes. 
Market By Moonlight: Downtown Boca To Host Monthly

Night Markets In Sanborn Square Through December

By Hillary Reynolds live music. Markets are set for Thursday, October 5; For more information, a list of Night Market vendors,
Thursday, November 2; and Thursday, December 14 from and for details on City happenings, visit www.myboca.
Downtown Boca will 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night. us/CommunityEvents.
host new monthly Night “Enjoy this new opportunity to meet up in Downtown About Boca Raton:
Ma rke t s a t Sa nborn Boca! Our Night Markets will feature a diverse range of The City of Boca Raton boasts five miles of gorgeous
Square, 72 N. Federal local businesses under the stars in a casual atmosphere beaches, 48 parks, and 1,650 acres of recreational space,
Highway, October through where you can do a little shopping, have a drink, grab attracting residents and visitors year-round. The City’s
December with delicious something to eat or just relax and enjoy the live music,” Recreation Services Department hosts a full calendar of
food options, beer and wine, said Richard Mahler, Community Events Coordinator for free community events at select parks and the Mizner
local artisans and makers, and the City of Boca Raton. Park Amphitheater. 

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