2023-09-25 14:15:06
Young Women in the Netherlands Considering Botox and Fillers on the Rise, Blame Social Media
Accepting oneself the way Mother Nature intended is becoming increasingly uncommon among young women in the Netherlands. Shockingly, four out of ten young women in the country now seriously consider getting Botox injections or lip fillers, compared to only 17 percent five years ago. This alarming trend is driven by the influence of social media, according to Australian researchers.
Between 2016 and 2019, the use of fillers increased by a staggering 17.5 percent, as calculated by Erasmus MC. In 2019 alone, 450,000 people underwent cosmetic procedures, and this number is expected to have surged in recent years. This growing demand for cosmetic procedures is largely attributed to celebrities like Kylie Jenner, the most popular woman on Instagram with nearly 400 million followers. When Jenner admitted that her signature lips owe their plumpness to fillers, the demand for the cosmetic procedure skyrocketed, exemplifying the power of social media.
Research conducted by the University of South Australia shows that young women who spend excessive amounts of time on social media have a significantly more negative self-image and are more likely to consider cosmetic surgery. Of the 238 Australian women aged between 18 and 29 surveyed, 16 percent had already undergone cosmetic procedures, and over half were contemplating doing so in the future. Only 31 percent expressed no interest in botox, fillers, or more serious cosmetic procedures.
The Australian findings are even more alarming than those from Rotterdam University. Between 2010 and 2018, the number of cosmetic procedures performed almost doubled in Australia, rising from 117,000 to over 225,000. Presently, 38 percent of adult Australians are considering Botox or fillers within the next decade.
Researcher Lauren Conboy emphasizes that social media’s influence on young women’s body image and their perceptions of cosmetic procedures is deeply concerning. “More and more young women are dissatisfied with their bodies. This longstanding issue has largely emerged because social media promotes an unattainable standard of beauty,” Conboy explains. Australian women are among the most active on social media platforms, intensifying their exposure to unrealistic beauty ideals. Consequently, increased social media usage correlates with a rise in the number of young women opting for cosmetic procedures.
To address this issue, Conboy’s research also delves into the potential of self-compassion to positively impact psychosocial well-being. Self-compassion involves accepting imperfections in a neutral manner. Conboy adds, “When we possess positive self-compassion, we are kinder and more understanding towards ourselves. Conversely, negative self-compassion leads us to exaggerate our mistakes and overly criticize ourselves.”
Further research indicates that young women who overidentify with personal characteristics they deem unattractive are more likely to harbor negative feelings about themselves. This form of over-identification significantly predicts a positive attitude towards cosmetic procedures. Additionally, the more young women use social media, the greater their acceptance of these treatments.
Co-researcher John Mingoia asserts that more must be done to deter women from striving for unrealistic and potentially harmful body images showcased on social media. Mingoia emphasizes that social media platforms can also be used as a force for good. “Given their immense popularity, we can utilize these platforms to disseminate messages countering potentially detrimental appearance-oriented content.”
It is important to note that the pursuit of happiness may not necessarily be fulfilled by undergoing cosmetic procedures. Research reveals that even after receiving cosmetic surgery, less than 40 percent of women report satisfaction with their bodies. Plastic surgeons also bear responsibility in ensuring the psychological well-being of women influenced by the beauty ideals perpetuated on social media before proceeding with surgery.
Mingoia offers a piece of wise advice for young women: “If they opt for cosmetic procedures without addressing their underlying negative self-compassion, they may never achieve satisfaction with their own bodies.”]
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