In the past decade, the Internet has surpassed newspapers, print media, and television as a prevalent news source for those all around the world. Since it is so effortless to discover new knowledge and data online, many individuals have fostered a generally trusting relationship with the Internet. But where do we draw the line? How does one know which sources they follow are accurate and which are completely biased or false? In the modern technology-heavy world we occupy, this is the difficulty that many users face. Social media creates a clouded veil between users and reality, and even I have fallen victim to misinformation.
Recent Internet misinformation scandals included disputed ballots during the 2020 Presidential Election and many ideologies related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as false vaccine myths and rumors of the source of COVID-19 being spread like wildfire.
As of late, many social media platforms have worked to combat this conflict by flagging biased or false posts as illegitimate, such as Facebook. But a new regulation, implemented by Norway’s government, has really created some buzz in the world of social media. Norway’s new commitment to maintaining authenticity online begs the question: why is it important to make sure that the things being spread online are accurate and true, especially when it comes to our appearances?
Perhaps the biggest illusion that social media has facilitated is that user profiles always reflect the truth. You can share a lot online, but you cannot convey an entire, nuanced persona through square images and reposted stories on Instagram. Many online profiles are not exactly reflective of actuality, but rather a “highlight reel” of one’s life and appearance. This can generally be harmless — but when it starts to edge into the realm of impacting self esteem and body image of users, it becomes quite a dangerous and messy predicament. Norway’s Ministry of Children’s and Family Affairs decided to take a stand against this phenomenon, declaring it illegal for influencers to share retouched photos on social media.
Norway’s new law requires all images in which one’s body size, shape, or skin have been altered to be flagged with a special label designed by the ministry. Now I know what many of you may be thinking: why is this necessary? First, let's start at the root of the issue. Unfortunately, most of the celebrities, role models, and influencers we know and love retouch or edit their photos online. Those in the spotlight often have their posts edited and completely managed by publicists or social media managers — although it seems like “the real them”, most of the time it isn’t. This can be particularly harmful for fanbases who look up to these idols as “role models”. In a study conducted by City University of London, it was established that out of a 175 person — female-identifying and nonbinary — experimental group, 90% of people indicated that they retouch their photos with an editing app or filter before posting. If your average person, with an average following, retouches their photos before sharing them with the online world, it is hard to believe that influencers with millions of critical followers do not. It has been rumored that even some of the most sought-after celebrities habitually share retouched photos — such as the Kardashians, infamous Tik Tokkers, and more — but in order to prevent furthering the fiasco of false information online, I’ll let you do that research for yourself.
So, what are the implications of this issue? Social media is mostly driven by personal opinion and preferences, so it may be hard for people to understand why deceiving images are threatening. It is innate for humans to compare themselves to others, but comparing yourself to unrealistic standards can be extremely risky. According to Dr. Rachel O’Neill, a licensed professional clinical counselor, "Unreasonable or impossible standards of beauty created by photo retouching can result in individual feelings of being flawed, not measuring up, or not being good enough.” These feelings are to be taken seriously, as prolonged feelings of inadequacy can lead to decreased self esteem, anxiety, and depression. Many also could be driven to change their own appearances or daily habits, participating in extreme dieting or fasting for example, in order to achieve a look that is practically unachievable. There are already enough societal pressures placed upon today’s youth, so I think any preventative measures we can take to assure authenticity online are necessary.
Although social media and what you post online is a personal choice, I stand by Norway’s proactive decision to cultivate a more honest space online. Personally, I long for the days when Instagram was spontaneous, Tweets were not all sponsored, and Facebook wasn’t full of political jargon. For now, most other countries are not monitoring retouched photos online, but perhaps some will follow Norway’s lead. In the meantime, maybe we can all absorb this information and use it to better our social media habits and how we portray our online selves. I think that having access to technology that has the capability to be so unifying and connecting is a privilege, and it is our duty to make sure we use the Internet with good intentions. What do you think — should people be able to edit their photos without any consequences?