Here’s a strange confession. As an elder Gen Z (nay I ever leave out the ‘elder’ part), I have a folder of older celebrities’ Instagram posts that I’ve saved as a means of dispelling ageing-related fears. After all, if said public figure’s skin, figure and overall air of vitality looks ‘better’ than mine despite being a decade or two older, what do I have to fear about ageing? Given my glamorous references, you’d be forgiven for thinking that getting older doesn’t actually have anything to do with looking older.
However, a reality check recently arrived when witnessing an older family friend edit a picture of themselves before posting it online. In person, they’re stunning, charismatic and elegant. The original photograph conveyed this—but apparently it wasn’t enough. As I looked on, they took to their smartphone’s screen and deftly adjusted a variety of filters to remove the appearance of fine lines and shadows that I wouldn’t have realised was visible to the average human eye. The end result? The post shared online showed them looking no less than fifteen years younger than the original image—and reality—showed.
It was a crisp wake-up call. The photographs of various influencers and celebrities that I’ve been regarding as surreal proof of one’s ability to remain aesthetically frozen over decades… These aren’t necessarily reality. Gone are the days of hyper-obvious, 2000s-era airbrushing. Now anybody can take to tweaking their own image online. But what are the ramifications of this new reality?
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A new pressure
As my own neuroticism indicates, there seems to be more pressure than ever to maintain a youthful-looking appearance for longer—especially for women. While more access to and knowledge of treatments like ‘undetectable tweakments’ and facelifts are contributing to this, the false realities perpetuated by social media also undeniably contribute.
With the influential and wealthy more likely to look younger for longer, this could be translating into a significant new divide. If a younger-looking appearance is tied to our success and class, it’s not a wonder that demand is higher than ever to keep up.
Sara-Ann Lee, clinical psychologist at The Psychology Practice, sheds some light on how constant exposure to these edited images may be affecting our psyche. “This may result in having unrealistic expectations of what the natural process of ageing looks like, and perceiving ageing as something to be avoided—even though it is inevitable.” Understandably, this can result in a poorer self-esteem, particularly where one starts to fixate or obsess over these physical characteristics.
“It’s possible that your identity may become tied to these overvalued concepts, and one may start to feel inadequate if they perceive themselves not to be meeting these standards,” says Lee.
A sense of control
Of course, the effects of de-aged photographs don’t only extend to the audience—what about the ramifications for those that habitually edit their own photos to look younger?
While Lee acknowledges that having the ability to edit certain features and influence others’ perceptions of their age and appearance online can boost self-esteem and confidence, excessive and habitual use can result in other issues. “The excessive use of this ability, as with all other behaviours, may lead to an individual being aware that there’s a discrepancy between their actual and ideal image. This could potentially result in poor self-esteem and mood.”
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Getting offline
“Ageing as a physical process is something that none of us are able to escape from, regardless of medical advancements and treatments that are purely aesthetic,” says Lee.
To that end, it’s worth keeping in mind that what you see isn’t necessarily reality. Though of course it can be healthy to look for sources of inspiration and role models where ageing positively and embracing different life stages is concerned, it’s important to realise that what you see shared online is often edited and carefully curated before being shared.
Should you begin to find yourself fixating upon ageing and physical appearances, consider reducing your social media time if others’ content is becoming a point of comparison. “A wider consideration would be to also consider psychological, rather than physical, aspects of ageing. How may we adapt to and engage with the different stages of life?” Lee suggests.
Indeed, in a world where we’re often told that our value is skin-deep, it’s crucial that we look beyond these superficial factors to identify our true worth and value. Perhaps my saved folder on Instagram can go beyond a heavily made up celebrity’s selfie or an older influencer’s workout that puts mine to shame—and instead encompass images that represent the sense of peace, wisdom and enjoyment that I can only hope will grow as I get older.
