“Construction of Identity in a digital world”
So we’re all subject to having some form of social media right? Instagram, TikTok? Now how much of that is your actual real life… Whether you’re an A-Lister like Kim Kardashian or just a regular social media user, nearly everyone has tried on a form of alteration like a Snapchat filter. This itself will have changed the way you look, changing the reality that we see with our eyes in comparison to what we see on our phones. However, nowadays, it is becoming more common than not to see things on social media that is not actually a reality. Honestly, nearly every single social media user of an influencer status has some form of filter or “FaceTune” on themselves, so that they are perceived to be perfect or live a perfect life.
The increase in popularity for filtering, photoshopping and, FaceTuning has boomed over the past few years. We are all aware that posters and advertisements have always been photoshopped to look immaculate on billboards and get rid of any blemishes or imperfections that one may have. Yet now, with the rise of social media and ‘influencing’ this effect has rubbed off on the majority of users. To achieve a slight tint on your photo, make your lips look fuller, make your waist look more cinched, there are plenty of ways to go about it. We have seen, but also caught out, where these have been done, sometimes on celebrities. One person who has been caught guilty on this on plenty of occasions is Khloe Kardashian. She has been caught using photoshop apps to make her waist look thinner, make her ass pop, and make her look like someone she isn’t.
It is definitely interesting to see that it is not just the A List community that do this as we also subconsciously do this when we try out a ‘funny’ filter. We may think that it’s a harmless filter, not one to intently change or enhance your image but even one we may find funny is still making you look completely different to real life. When it comes to casual posting like an Instagram story, we can post pictures of any place in the world, and location tag it to be ANYWHERE without having to actually be there. Scary right? It’s a false reality sadly. I could be having a cosy day in my bedroom, but find a picture online of the Bahamas, and post it right on my Instagram story saying I’m spending the day on a wellness retreat there. It is so easy to think of any scenario where we could make our lives look like we are living something we really are not. Are you guilty of this? posting an old pic that may have been laying in your camera roll and making out you’re busy? Have you ever used a filter or FaceTuned to enhance a certain facial feature? I think we will mostly find answers admitting to doing so, especially now, more than ever where social media has the impact it does today, and the false realities that lay within.
Intriguing to focus on filters, photoshop, or general alterations to shift the appearance to reflect on ‘the construction of identity’, and ngl I clicked in cuz you got somehow of a clickbait image, anyway nice blog.
I think this is such an interesting take on the topic! The Kardashians are definitely important people when it comes to digital reality. Would you say that they use the freedom to edit their pictures to their advantage or disadvantage? Would they be even more popular using fewer filters and photoshopping?
Hi Jay,
I really enjoyed reading this blog, It is simple yet very interesting since we hear and see a lot of things about A list celebrities. As much as I understand and acknowledge the fact that even celebrities have insecurities and certain kind of responsibilities to look good at all times, Do you think that the celebrities are feeding wrong and false beauty standards to children and setting the impression of how one should look perfect and instagram worthy or they are just normal humans with insecurities that they would likely hide from the world?
It is said that there is a website that analyses whether you are male or female based on the type of video you watch, so that different comments are displayed in the video comment section.
our blog sheds light on the prevalent use of filters and photo editing tools on social media, highlighting the shift from portraying real-life moments to creating curated, altered versions of ourselves. Here’s a simple constructive comment:
Great exploration of the impact of filters and editing tools on social media! Your personal touch, like mentioning funny filters and the scenario of posting pictures from anywhere in the world, makes the blog relatable. To enhance clarity, consider breaking down some longer sentences for smoother flow. Additionally, expanding on examples or anecdotes can further illustrate your points and make the blog even more engaging. Keep up the good work!