How does social media shape society’s perspective of what is “perfect”?

Jonathan Romero:

“Well I feel that social media creates an agenda that targets teens by creating apps that helps them socialize and will usually give them the feeling that likes and the attention that comes with that is more important than the intended purpose. So with this idea, I feel that these methods used by social media is created to keep teens from focusing on our world’s problems, thus keeping teens sort of ‘weak minded’ when they focus on materialistic focuses.”

Aimee Lopez:

“It shows us pictures of people with pretty faces and now with ‘the perfect body type’ who are considered perfect and better so it makes us feel bad about ourselves. It makes you think that that’s what perfect people look like and the only way you’ll be accepted to society with no problems is looking like those people you see on social media who are pretty but also seem happy.”

Ms. Herrington:

“Multiple in [a] multitude of ways, based on the images we see; the messages we hear. What people post on Facebook and the internet. Sometimes it hurts us and makes people feel insecure about the way they look and the way they act, but it can also be a very powerful tool when used in the right way and can help to empower individuals and help them feel part of society, part of a group, important.”

Ms. Hanus

“This whole idea of just deleting something right away; you can have like fifteen pictures and choose the best one and post it. So I feel like it doesn’t always capture the real moment or the real thing. People are more concerned [with] getting the right picture and posting it instead of just capturing the moment. People think that every picture you take needs to be perfect and every post needs to be perfect and the truth of the matter is that’s not really real in society. You can’t judge what’s really happening with pictures.”

– Rocio Garcia and Sielina Castillo