Dk Siti Nur Haziqah Pg Saiful Rizal, Liydia Mohamad Suffri, Arina Harum Binti Ahad, Bernard Jonathan Nugroho Dharm, showed that Norhazimah Binti Amri in a world dominated by polished magazine covers, flawless Instagram feeds, and perfectly curated TikTok videos, the pursuit of perfection has become relentless. Society’s beauty standards often appear unattainable fantasies, causing many to question their self-worth. This article delves into the pervasive influence of unrealistic beauty standards in the digital age, highlighting their adverse effects on mental health and societal perceptions.

The team gathered data from a diverse group of respondents:

• Age: 2% (12-16), 60% (17-21), 30% (22-25), and 8% (26+).
• Gender: A notable 64% of male respondents admitted to comparing themselves to digital influencers, challenging the notion that beauty standards are solely a women’s issue.

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok play a significant role in shaping beauty standards. The survey revealed that over half of the participants compare themselves to influencers and models, underscoring the societal pressure to conform to idealized beauty norms.

The research also emphasized the impact of where unrealistic beauty standards have detrimental effects on mental health:

• Pressure to Conform: 60% of respondents rated their pressure to conform to beauty standards as a 3 out of 5.
• Self-Doubt and Inadequacy: Many respondents reported feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy, driven by the unattainable standards promoted by social media.

Also, the pursuit of unattainable beauty ideals reinforces harmful stereotypes, and societal inequalities will affect those who do not conform to conventional beauty norms, contributing to prejudice and discrimination.