Composition in Two Genres Project –
The truth of technology in our society
Mavel Hidalgo
English Composition 11000
Ian Murphy
The City College of New York
The truth of technology in our society
Comic Strip/Cartoon
Popular Magazine Article Interview –
I will be interviewing a young adult who has struggled with their self-image and confidence propagated by the beauty standards in society which have become even more mainstream due to technology and media.
What is your age?
I am 22 years old.
When did you first start using social media and technology?
I started using social media and technology at the age of 11. I remember being enraptured by the computer games and Facebook which was the biggest platform at the time.
Do you think beauty standards exist in today’s society?
Absolutely. They are everywhere. On the magazine, you pick up to read, on your phone in the apps you use to interact with your friends, on the billboards you see on your way to work or school. Beauty standards are all over us today in society and media has helped make it mainstream in order to sell.
Do you edit photos of yourself before posting them on any social media?
Yes, it makes me feel prettier, more attractive if you will and boosts my confidence. I know this is not good for me and the ideal beauty is unrealistic, but I still do hope I would look like how I photoshop myself.
What media formats influence your idea of the ideal-looking person?
Mainly models and influencers on Instagram and magazines.
Do you feel pressured by the media to look a certain way? If so, why?
Always, I care a lot about how I look in photos. Everyone around me always feels like they need to look perfect as seen on TV, in movies, or even influencers online. We see it so often and so much of it we start to believe that what is being portrayed in those pictures is what we are supposed to look like. I don’t worry to that extent, but it is always on my mind. I care a lot about how I am being portrayed and over the years I have come to learn and understand that it is because my self-confidence is lacking.
The images on social media sites are idealized and unreal, due to digital alteration and this then sets high expectations from individuals in society. Especially for teenagers and young adults, since social media shapes their entire lives. With the advances in technology, social media has been found to have an immediate effect on beauty. Because of the body images depicted online, more and more impressionable people are turning to social media for acceptance and support. We must accept that the beauty standards placed in society are unrealistic and unhealthy and we should continuously promote body positivity.
