Unrealistic body expectations have always existed. But with the rise of social media, they have grown more prominent and more demanding. Music videos feature scantily clad women with voluptuous bodies, yet no sign of stretch marks. Social media abounds with pictures of chiseled bodybuilders accompanied by hashtags like #gymlife and #beastmode. Blogs promote techniques assuring disillusioned readers that “you too can drop ten pounds in a single week,” accompanied by pictures of lean models to really sell the message.

For us teenagers, many of whom grew up surrounded by the internet and social media, these unattainable body standards can inflict serious damage on what our notion of “healthy” looks like.

The media have always set very stringent standards on what people, especially girls and women, should look like.

From a young age, little girls are gifted with vanities, makeup sets and blue-eyed, blond-haired Barbies. We look up to conventionally attractive celebrities who preach “self-love” but promote their expensive makeup products and advertise detox tea brands.

We see magazine covers of airbrushed models and scroll through photoshopped pictures of friends on social media. When society places so much importance on our appearance, it can be hard for us teens to have a positive perception of our bodies.

We teens spend nine hours a day using media for our enjoyment, and much of that time is spent being exposed to harmful beauty standards on social media. Research has demonstrated that the more time we spend on social media absorbing unrealistic body expectations, the more likely we are to suffer from negative body image and eating disorders. The images we see in the media are designed to give us an unrealistic expectation of what is beautiful.

Models have fitness coaches, dieticians, personal stylists, makeup artists, and editors to craft their bodies into the ideal version of beauty. Their entire careers are centered on making themselves seem attractive! In reality, just 5% of women naturally possess the body type portrayed by the media. The disparity between the idealized bodies we see on social media, magazine covers, and runways and the real bodies we see around us in everyday life emphasizes the media’s failure to represent different body sizes, colors, and shapes.

Despite the repercussions that social media has had on body image, the increasing influence of body positive movements across social platforms under hashtags like #allbodiesarebeautiful and #normalizenormalbodies have formed online communities encouraging people to embrace themselves.

Social media, which is less regimented than conventional fashion outlets, has allowed traditionally marginalized bodies to take the spotlight and has encouraged people to initiate conversations about self-love and self-care. One of the main objectives of this movement, influencers say, is for people to be able to look at their screens and see themselves represented.

What is healthy? What is beautiful? People often judge others’ health and beauty based on their outward appearance. But that isn’t a reliable indicator of their diet and exercise or their attractiveness. Factors like genetics and medical conditions can impact physical well-being and personal appeal can vary based on individual preference.

The reality is, beauty and health are subjective. What works for you is going to be different than what works for someone else. Rather than judging each other and ourselves for our looks, we should all aspire to be comfortable in our own skin.

Maria Proulx of Ledyard is a rising senior at St. Bernard School in Montville.