{"id":7461,"date":"2026-04-28T16:15:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/?p=7461"},"modified":"2026-04-28T16:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:15:12","slug":"nice-smile-thank-you-i-had-it-edited-specially","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/opine\/2026\/04\/28\/nice-smile-thank-you-i-had-it-edited-specially\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cNice smile!\u201d \u201cThank you, I had it edited specially\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is the end of another year, and that means graduation is coming around. First of all, congratulations and good luck to everybody who is leaving Aberdeen Uni!<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing common to big events are photographs: whether it is a birthday, Christmas, graduation, or even nights out, photos are a lovely way to remember the best, and most embarrassing, moments. For me, social media does much the same thing. Being online, you can create a timeline of your choosing, rather like a photo album or a disposable camera for people who remember those. However, there is another side to social media, and the internet in general – photoshop. Though most people think of photoshop in the typical sense of thinning down arms and legs, or airbrushing away lines, it stretches further than that. Photoshop is defined as digitally enhancing or editing photographs, with the goal of making them more attractive to their intended audience, and it is used all over the place.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may be wondering what graduation and photoshop have in common. There is a promotion running currently whereby people can pay to have their grad photos enhanced for as little as \u00a312.50. Fancy a brighter smile? Easy! Just pay the premium, and you can have pearly whites set to dazzle the crowds, with an eye brightener thrown in for good measure. \u2018Complexion enhancement\u2019 – whatever that means – comes for the same price, and to have the whole package it is just \u00a320.00 from your bank account; I have spent more money on train tickets. Harmless, right?<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps not.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is widely known that the rise in social media has increased the use of photoshop, however post-photo editing processes date back to the early 1920s. In this era, it was mainly used for collage purposes, however the basic principle is consistent with today\u2019s – the editor wanting to make a photograph more attractive. What we define as attractive has of course changed, and will inevitably continue to alter, but the concept itself links into the wider impacts of social media. We are living in a digital era, with the vast majority of interactions being facilitated by the internet. Covid only expedited this, with platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams taking off, and I\u2019m sure we all remember the various Lockdown TikTok Trends!<\/span><\/p>\n

If Covid taught us anything, it is that human interaction is crucial. I love my space, but there is only so much solitude a person can take, and being on group chats or even texting filled a gap that is normally taken up by going to classes, or wasting money at the student union with friends. Social media also provides a door to huge communities, with something out there for everyone – the food threads are my personal favourite, but there are fitness blogs, fashion tips and reels on pretty much everything. With online communities having such high presence, there is an opportunity for education on current issues and injustices. The online Black Lives Matter movement is a particularly good example of this: one viral social media post sparked outrage, followed by one of the biggest discussions about institutionalised racism and brutality within the Police in many years. In this sense, social media is beneficial, and can only continue to improve, as it generates conversation, and allows virtual connection between individuals who otherwise may never have met.<\/span><\/p>\n

But for all its positives, social media does have quite a negative – and potentially dangerous – side. Covid united us virtually, but sometimes I do wonder if it has permanently broken the off-switch. I can remember regularly getting emails from teachers on a Sunday where previously, most communication would cease on a Friday. Alarmingly, the number of work-related emails sent at the weekend rocketed by 1121% during the pandemic. It may have been deemed a necessity, but many have reported this non-stop work week being perpetuated long after the lockdowns were lifted and single use masks became a novelty once again. A recent study has shown that only 24% of people completely leave work at the office for the weekend and stop checking their emails. It seems that the close connection social media creates has become quite toxic, with the pandemic simply highlighting its ability to fuel an increasingly workaholic society.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have already said that I love the online communities social media creates, and for the most part, they truly are wonderful. However it is possible to fall down the rabbit hole into more radical circles, as seen in the Canadian TikTok Experiment. Here, researchers found that in as little as 500 videos, it was possible to discover the darker side of social media, where extremism thrives. It is concerning that social media can be weaponised in this way, when originally it was created to allow people to connect and be brought closer in an increasingly globalised world.<\/span><\/p>\n

Photoshop is a prominent feature within the modelling industry, with Victoria\u2019s Secret models being a well-known example of erasure of the undesirable. Both in model selection and post-production editing, these widely circulated photographs promote body dysmorphia, reducing the confidence of those who do not fit the \u2018perfect\u2019 mould. Once again, social media plays into this as the vehicle for such opinions. We all want to fit in, and there is a danger of comparison to these unreachable and unattainable standards (which are not possible to meet due to their artificial nature). However in speaking to others, it seems that these sorts of editing have become very much the normal, with very few unfiltered, unedited photographs on the internet. Of course, as GS pointed out, editing has its place on the internet: photographers can alter their work to fit their style and enhance particular features. The issue arises where a person\u2019s appearance is significantly altered, and this is not declared; something which is seen frequently within the modelling industry. The repeated exposure to these unrealistic standards is detrimental to personal image and self confidence, and this issue is only fuelled by social media, which allows worldwide circulation of these misconceptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

FM takes a similar view. Though he admits to not being the best at spotting edited images – but really, are any of us? – overall he thinks photoshop and similar software are very much a double-edged sword. Editing programs can be used to get rid of background objects or small blemishes, however it is these same tools that can be used to cherry pick the best parts of a person\u2019s life to be shared online, leaving out the less desirable aspects. It seems to me that editing software and social media culture in general appears to be encouraging the belief that something is only worth remembering if it is \u2018perfect\u2019 by society\u2019s standards. However, FM thinks it may depend on the type of the edit: there is a big difference between increasing a photograph\u2019s contrast to creating a deepfake, and the scale of impact the action will have.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the 21st Century, there has been a huge push to end gender stereotypes, and social media has done a lot to aid this, with many communities affirming people\u2019s self-representations, creating connection and providing support across the internet. However, GS found that the vast majority of posts from female influencers portray hyper-feminine women, with dresses, makeup and nails being prominent features of their content, while male influencers tend to have a lot of muscle definition and be focused on the gym. This plays into traditional gender stereotypes, with GS pointing out the potential exclusions that may result, as not everybody identifies in this way.<\/span><\/p>\n

A slightly different view is taken by FM. \u201cI don\u2019t think social media itself portrays negative or harmful stereotypes, but as a product of our society it is now used as a tool to perpetuate and magnify the harmful stereotypes that already existed\u201d. This is interesting, as it implies that social media is the vehicle rather than the actor; it is a method of furthering harmful stereotypes which society has already created. Similarly, he says that although social media can allow for gender stereotypes to be furthered, it also encourages breaking gender norms through connection to wider communities with broader views not necessarily portrayed in the mainstream media. FM also argues that social media increases visibility of those who are redefining gender and pushing the boundaries of traditional definitions, and can therefore be used to expand society\u2019s worldviews in general. This debate over the roles of vehicle and actor seems to be a defining feature in determining the true impact of social media in the 21st Century, and its wider contribution towards society.<\/span><\/p>\n

The concerns over social media and its impacts have not gone unnoticed in the legal field, with a push for legislation being seen in recent years. The Online Safety Bill is currently in the works, which strives to improve protections and regulations in connection with OFCOM (the communications watchdog). Among other things, it aims to regulate \u201clegal but harmful\u201d content, and this appears to encompass some aspects of photoshop. The Bill is drawing inspiration from legislation already enacted in other countries. France\u2019s photoshop law came into force in 2017: the French Code of Public Health requires any commercial image where editing was utilised to make a model appear thinner to bear the watermark \u201c<\/span>photographie retouch\u00e9e<\/span><\/i>\u201d (\u201cedited photograph\u201d), with stiff fines for those who ignore this prerequisite. Norway\u2019s Marketing Act was recently updated to prevent influencers from posting modified photos without declaring the changes. Norwegian influencers have weighed in, saying that people\u2019s embarrassment will discourage them from editing their photos, as they will not want to admit to having done so. Another country to draw a firm line is Israel, who have recently amended their Limiting Weight in the Modelling Industry Act to require all models over the age of 18 to have a Body Mass Index of 18.5 or higher, in effect preventing excessive editing of digital images.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there is doubt over the efficacy of such legislation. GS wonders how these restrictions would be enforced across such an expansive platform; the internet is so vast and new social media platforms are being created constantly. In theory, she can see the benefits of legislation such as the Online Safety Bill to reduce extremism, yet some people may argue that this infringes upon free speech. Admittedly, it is difficult to find the balance, but it must be drawn to prevent facets of social media and the wider internet from spiralling out of control. FM raised this point, specifically in terms of extremist content promotion. He believes it would prove useful if it gave social media sites clearer guidance on the definition of extremist material and what should be taken down immediately; this may allow companies to be held to higher account for the impacts their actions have on consumers\u2019 lives. It will be interesting to see this unfold.<\/span><\/p>\n

FM also points out the severe lack of policing in some aspects of social media, particularly where minors are involved. Yet this goes both ways, with the excessive restrictions on specific types of content creating a whole separate issue in itself. He gives the example that a lot of LGBTQ+ content is removed from social media sites for being \u201csexually explicit\u201d; this is not a parallel always seen with heterosexual couples or cisgender people. This move only serves to feed into the fetishised view of LGBTQ+ lifestyles being inherently sexual (which in my opinion, is disappointing in the 21st Century).<\/span><\/p>\n

So what do you think? Is social media still the positive influence it was intended to be, or has it morphed into something more sinister? Personally, I do think it retains a lot of potential, but society may have gone too far in trying to create the \u2018perfect\u2019 photo; sometimes I wonder if we ever are truly without a filter. Of course, the beauty of social media is that we always have a choice when it comes to our image, but when my time comes, I think I will go without the enhanced smile.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is the end of another year, and that means graduation is coming around. First of all, congratulations and good luck to everybody who is leaving Aberdeen Uni! One thing common to big events are photographs: whether it is a birthday, Christmas, graduation, or even nights out, photos are a lovely way to remember the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":7462,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","iawp_total_views":6,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[1177,518,1142,1890,567],"wf_post_folders":[337],"class_list":{"0":"post-7461","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-opine","8":"tag-covid-19","9":"tag-durga-sharma","10":"tag-opine","11":"tag-photoshop","12":"tag-tiktok"},"acf":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Durga Sharma","author_link":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/author\/durga\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pexels-samma97-6155010-300x200.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Opine<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Opine<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["Covid-19<\/a>","Durga Sharma<\/a>","Opine<\/a>","Photoshop<\/a>","TikTok<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Covid-19<\/span>","Durga Sharma<\/span>","Opine<\/span>","Photoshop<\/span>","TikTok<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 3 months ago","modified":"Updated 3 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on 28 April 2026","modified":"Updated on 28 April 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on 28 April 2026 16:15","modified":"Updated on 28 April 2026 16:15"},"featured_img_caption":"Luca Sammarco courtesy of Pexels","series_order":"","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7461"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7463,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7461\/revisions\/7463"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7461"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaudie.co.uk\/wpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=7461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}