I recently had a discussion with a group of thirty-year-old men and women. I was shocked to hear that every male in the group was already using some sort of hair growth supplement. More than half of the women readily admitted to using Botox and/or fillers.

After I left them, I wondered why they feel, at such a young age, the necessity of maintaining a youthful appearance. Does the world that they live in place such a heavy value on appearance that they need to respond so young?  Does social media intensify these choices by constantly showcasing filtered perfection and unrealistic standards? 

When I was that age, fashion magazines were often criticized for placing similar unrealistic appearance goals on young women. Unlike the fashion magazines of the 1980s—which definitely influenced beauty standards but only in monthly doses—social media delivers those pressures nonstop, every time they open their phone.  I wondered what part of their actions are they doing for themselves and how much is for the world watching?