Photo filters can diminish self-esteem

Digitally enhanced selfies on social networks can unsettle users and even lead to a disturbance in their own body image. US doctors from the Boston University School of Medicine warn against this in the journal Jama Facial Plastic Surgery.

selfie

The idea of beauty is changing worldwide because nowadays everyone can edit their pictures and selfies with smartphone apps, the researchers write. For example, skin is made more beautiful, face and eye color is made more expressive and teeth whiter. Such image manipulation used to be found mainly in advertising.

The researchers led by Neelam Vashi refer to a recent survey of cosmetic surgeons around the world. According to the survey, 55% of them say that they are asked for surgery by patients who want to improve their appearance in selfies. In 2015, this figure was still 42 percent.

According to doctors, cosmetic surgery patients no longer want to look like stars, but rather like retouched versions of themselves, with fuller lips, larger eyes or a slimmer nose. (SDA)

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