Many people who grew up listening to Christina Aguilera’s 2002 smash song “Beautiful,” with its potent lyrics and instantly recognizable chords, still regard it as an anthem of self-love. When it was released, Aguilera also unveiled a music video with characters who appeared to be misfits due to their peculiarities, such as a homosexual couple and a woman tearing up magazine pages. Aguilera just debuted a new music video for the well-known song, 20 years later. This time, she utilizes it to raise awareness on how social media affects mental health and body image.
In the caption of the an Instagram post post unveiling the updated music video earlier this week, Christina Aguilera stated, “We are Beautiful, no matter what others say.” She stated, “A message I will always support and one I prioritize instilling in my own children through every chapter of their lives.”
The pop artist added, “Today, it’s harder than ever to hear our own voice among the many others flooding our feeds and thoughts with muddled messaging…eventually leading us to tune-out our own truth and self worth.” The goal of the original “Beautiful” film was to promote awareness and compassion in the face of criticism, judgment, and outside ideas. It still conveys the significance of staying true to our fundamental principles despite what is being fed to us. to achieve equilibrium and accept ourselves for who we are.
In the new music video, teenage females can be seen snapping selfies, glancing at a vending machine full with drugs, and applying makeup in front of a shining ring light. Additionally, there are videos of young boys comparing their bodies to a muscular man in a gym and pictures of bodies that appear to have changed for the better. The children remove their makeup, put down their weights, and head outdoors to play together as the story comes to a close.
The film concludes with a text statement, which emphasizes the idea even further. Over a video of a smartphone that appears to be bleeding, it states, “In the previous 20 years, when Stripped was originally released, social media has revolutionized our relationship with our bodies, and in turn, our mental health.” According to research, children and teens who spend too much time on social networking sites are more likely to have eating disorders, self-harm, and body image problems. “This must change,” you say.
The video concludes by directing viewers to Aguilera’s website for resources on mental health. Her website currently has connections to the International Mental Health Association , the Help Guide charitable organization for mental health and wellness, and the Trans Lifeline organization that offers trans peer support.
There is a lot of evidence, as Aguilera notes in the new song video, that social media affects self-image and mental health. For instance, 2021 findings attribute the first launch of Facebook to a reduction in college students’ mental health, notably as a result of the social comparison that the website encourages. Additionally, a 2019 article discovered a link between eating disorders in kids and teenagers and social media use. Furthermore, a 2020 systematic review of 16 studies discovered a connection between social media use and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.
It’s also important to note that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the suicide rate among 10- to 24-year-olds jumped by 57% from 2007 to 2017 after remaining steady from 2000 to 2007. This growth took place during the years that Facebook and other social media apps were introduced and saw rapid growth.
The newest social networking app at the forefront of mental health studies is called TikTok. Numerous studies have looked at this connection, including an Instagram post 0, which discovered a link between using TikTok and memory loss, anxiety, and sadness.
While social media may bring people together from different parts of the world and allow many who wouldn’t otherwise have a platform the chance to contribute ideas and creative content, it is without a doubt not without its drawbacks. Look at an Instagram post 1 from a time when individuals were still struggling with self acceptance, but in different ways, if you’re missing the days before social media.
