If you use social media, you’ve likely seen the posts – someone will share a video or photo that specifically highlights any blemishes they think you might have (think: a straight-sized woman showing tummy rolls when sitting down, or a famous model sharing a recent breakout of acne).
Recently, the trend has taken off on TikTok, manifesting itself through a sound byte that reads, “Bodies that look like this also look like this.” At the beginning of each video, the TikTok user stands or sits as if posing for a camera (“Bodies that look like this …”), and then shares a second shot, this time hunched over or pinching the belly. fat or doing something else that makes them look “flawed” in some way (“… they look like that too”).
At first glance, it may seem like a refreshing and healthy way to use social media, highlighting the fact that bodies don’t seem retouched in real life. However, experts warn that these posts, which show what is known as “healed blemishes,” are not rooted in true body positivity and may even be harmful. That is how.
What exactly are curated imperfections?
Thanks to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, most of us spend much of our time selecting our lives for social media. We choose which vacation photos to post, which selfies we think we look the best in, which videos we think will generate the most laughs, the list goes on.
When social media first became popular, users worked to hide any perceived “blemishes” in these posts. Now, they have begun to show them, but only certain “flaws,” Susan Albers-Bowling, PsyD, a psychiatrist at the Cleveland Clinic tells Health. “Ironically, even in their ‘worst’ moments, these blemish-healed images still represent the best of the worst,” says Dr. Albers-Bowling.
These little “flaws” are things that social media users think others can relate to, but they are still carefully chosen moments of “flaws.” “Pictures of blemishes are still organized and chosen,” says Dr. Albers-Bowling. “They don’t capture a real snapshot of people in their raw or real moments.”
So why are these curated imperfections problematic?
For starters, it’s never okay to label or refer to a part of someone’s body as “imperfect” or “flawed,” says Chrissy King, writer, and creator of The Body Liberation Project, which helps women create healthier relationships. with their bodies. . “Bodies roll; dimples form. This is not a defect; this is just what they are,” says King. And even claiming to “accept flaws” is the wrong way of looking at it, as the body never has “flaws,” not even when someone is in the process of losing weight or making lifestyle changes to her.
In addition to framing the natural body as “flawed,” King says this trend also shows that people exaggerate those perceived flaws, for example by dramatically leaning in to emphasize belly fat. This essentially allows normal-sized people to become a voice for those with larger bodies, even though they are not part of that community, King says.
These healed blemishes can also add to the already unattainable standards of perfection, essentially making people (especially teenagers) feel that even their perceived flaws have to meet a certain standard. “It’s natural for teens to look to those around them for examples and role models,” says Dr. Albers-Bowling. Before the rise of social media, this generally meant seeing real people in your everyday life. But now, with social media communities, they see (and aspire to be) people who look nothing like them, damaging the way they think about their own bodies. “Viewers often feel that they don’t even come close to the ‘imperfect’ version they see on social media,” says Dr. Albers-Bowling.
It is important to pay attention to how these images also make you feel, to understand why they are not exactly useful. Dr. Albers-Bowling recommends contemplating these questions when you see blemishes healed on social media: “What does your gut tell you? Does it make you feel bad about yourself? Does it trigger negative behaviors?” Paying attention to how your body feels while scrolling through social media can help you show what a healthy relationship looks like on those platforms. It’s an important skill for people of all ages (again, especially teens) to learn. “You can’t control what [they] see, but you can teach them to think critically about these images,” says Dr. Albers-Bowling.
Who is most harmed by these curated imperfections?
If you feel any distress after seeing these strategic attempts at body positivity, you are a victim of these posts. But it’s worth noting that these carefully curated posts are primarily from straight-sized, white, young women with no apparent physical disabilities. “This is a big problem,” says King. Although anyone can be a victim of body image struggles, more privileged demographics can miss the broader point that the body positivity movement fights for. “If you’re talking about how you accept your body without having the understanding to recognize [what it’s like to live in a] black body, trans body, fat body, that falls a bit short,” says King.
Dr. Albers-Bowling agrees: “When you look closely at the demographics of those who dare to post the image of ‘blemishes’ on social media, they often come from a very narrow segment of society and don’t include to the marginalized or diverse communities “. This can lead to increased self-criticism and negativity for those who do not see themselves in the portrayed images.
It also occupies space in the body positivity conversation, a space that was not necessarily intended for women who embody the ideal of feminine beauty. King explains that when these women flood the body positivity conversation with blemish-healed posts, by contorting their bodies to appear different from what they actually are, it does a disservice to people in marginalized bodies for whom it was originally created. body positivity movement.
So what can you do about these ‘curated imperfection’ posts?
Before creating any post you consider body-positive, ask yourself why you’re doing it, advises King. “We have to step back [and ask]: Who is he really going to help?” she says. You can also consider the privilege that your image gives you by asking: Am I a person whose identity needs to be centered at this moment?
When creating media of any kind, it’s important not to exaggerate your body parts to try and fit into certain communities, King says, referring to those who try to accentuate body parts to make them appear larger, smaller, or different than what. They are. “Don’t do these exaggerated poses to show more body fat when you don’t have any,” she says.
King adds that it’s easy to get on a train like the blemishes cured trend without considering the implications of this, explaining that while many might justify their posts by saying, “It’s just TikTok,” their actions have consequences: “These things have A great impact.”
And if you come across one of these posts, and it makes you feel a certain way, Dr. Albers-Bowling recommends ignoring it as much as you can by scrolling past it (remember: interacting with them via likes or comments can make you appear on your page more often). If that doesn’t help your mindset, take a minute to remind yourself that Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms are not a reality, even when users try to make it sound like that. Comparing yourself (your body, your work, your life) to anything you see on social media platforms is never a good idea. “We prepare ourselves to never feel good enough,” says Dr. Albers-Bowling.
