Does Photoshop Play a Role in Body Image Concerns in Children?

Exploring the Impact of Altered Images on Young Minds

From magazine covers to social media filters, image editing has become so normalized that many adults barely notice it anymore. But for children and preteens still developing a sense of self, Photoshopped images can profoundly distort how they view their own bodies—and their worth.

While the use of Photoshop in advertising and entertainment is nothing new, the omnipresence of edited images on social media has created an environment where perfection seems not only possible but expected. In this post, we explore how digitally altered images influence children’s body image, the psychological mechanisms behind these effects, and what parents, educators, and caregivers can do to foster media literacy and resilience.

Understanding Photoshop and Digital Manipulation

Photoshop and similar software allow for extensive editing of photographs, including:

• Smoothing skin and removing “imperfections”

• Altering body size or shape

• Enhancing or minimizing features (e.g., waist, muscles, facial symmetry)

• Changing lighting and skin tone

• Using filters that reshape entire facial structures

These images often do not reflect real human bodies, yet they are marketed as beauty ideals — or worse, as “normal.”

How Children Internalize Unrealistic Beauty Standards

1. Developmental Vulnerability

Children between the ages of 8 and 13 are:

• Developing body awareness

• Forming self-esteem

• Highly sensitive to peer acceptance and appearance

According to research, children are particularly vulnerable to internalizing media messages because they often lack the critical thinking skills to differentiate between reality and constructed imagery.

2. Social Comparison Starts Early

Children naturally compare themselves to others, especially to figures perceived as “ideal.” When those figures are digitally perfected, the standard becomes unattainable, leading to:

• Dissatisfaction with their own appearance

• Shame about normal body changes (e.g., puberty, weight fluctuations)

• Pressure to conform to narrow definitions of beauty

• Early interest in dieting, makeup, or muscle enhancement

A study by Tiggemann & Slater (2014) found that even short-term exposure to edited images increased body dissatisfaction in girls as young as 10.

Photoshop on Social Media: A Child’s Eye View

Today’s children are growing up on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube — platforms saturated with:

• Heavily filtered influencers

• Edited “before and after” transformations

• Apps like FaceTune or AI filters that promote cosmetic ideals

Unlike magazine models, many of these influencers are relatable peers or slightly older role models, which increases the impact. Children may think:

• “She’s just a regular person — why don’t I look like that?”

• “Maybe I need to fix something too.”

Boys are not immune. Increasingly, boys report pressure to appear lean, muscular, and defined — ideals often reinforced through digitally altered fitness content.

Consequences of Photoshop Culture for Children

Psychological Impacts:

• Increased body dissatisfaction

• Anxiety about appearance

• Low self-esteem

• Disordered eating behaviors and preoccupation with weight

• Early onset of appearance-related teasing or bullying

Behavioral Impacts:

• Excessive mirror checking or body comparison

• Avoidance of photos or refusal to be in pictures

• Experimentation with restrictive eating, supplements, or exercise regimens

• Asking for cosmetic changes or expressing interest in plastic surgery

According to a 2021 Common Sense Media study, 1 in 3 girls between ages 10–17 report feeling worse about their bodies after using Instagram — a platform known for its image-heavy, filtered content.

What Can Be Done? Prevention Through Education and Support

1. Teach Media Literacy Early

Children need tools to understand:

• What Photoshop is and how often it’s used

• That images online are curated, edited, and not always real

• That bodies come in all shapes, sizes, and colors

Use examples of before-and-after images to demystify the illusion. Ask:

“Do you think this person really looks like this in real life?”
“Why might someone change their appearance for social media or advertising?”

2. Model Body Respect at Home

• Avoid criticizing your own or others' bodies around children

• Focus on what bodies can do rather than how they look

• Talk openly about diversity in bodies, abilities, and beauty

• Praise children for qualities unrelated to appearance (e.g., creativity, kindness, curiosity)

3. Support Open Conversation

If a child expresses body concerns, avoid dismissing them. Instead:

• Validate their feelings (“It’s normal to feel unsure about your body sometimes.”)

• Ask curious, open-ended questions (“What made you think about that today?”)

• Share your own experience of learning to care for your body — including your mistakes

4. Encourage Critical Thinking on Social Media

As children get older, help them:

• Follow diverse, body-positive accounts

• Take breaks from image-heavy platforms

• Understand how algorithms promote appearance-focused content

• Recognize when they’re comparing themselves and practice redirection

Final Thought

Photoshop isn’t just a tool — it’s part of a cultural script that tells children they must look a certain way to be valued. And while we can’t eliminate image editing altogether, we can arm children with the awareness, tools, and compassion to resist these messages and develop healthier self-esteem.

Body dissatisfaction doesn’t have to be a rite of passage. With open conversations and intentional media literacy, we can raise a generation that sees through the illusion — and learns to see themselves with clarity, respect, and care.

References

• Tiggemann, M., & Slater, A. (2014). NetGirls: The Internet, Facebook, and body image concern in adolescent girls. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 47(6), 630–643.

• Perloff, R. M. (2014). Social media effects on young women’s body image concerns: Theoretical perspectives and an agenda for research. Sex Roles, 71, 363–377.

• Common Sense Media (2021). Teens and Body Image on Social Media. www.commonsensemedia.org

• Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women's body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13, 38–45.