Colegio de Calumpit, Inc.

Iba O’Este Calumpit, Bulacan

A Qualitative Study on the Impacts of Instagram’s Beauty-ideal Imagery on Senior High

School Students’ Self Perception

Researchers:

Balingit, Mariel D.C.

Bautista, Gabrielle Angela G.

Carpio, Leopoldo Amado S.

Cruz, Noah Miguel R.

Gabriel, Jhomarie T.

Garcia, Sophia Leighanah C.

Guevarra, Vincent John A.

S.Y. 2021-2022
 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

Beauty is concerned with both physical and psychological state due to its intertwined

relationship. As said by Anwesha (2021), beauty is the embodiment of fine thoughts, perceptions

and one’s understanding of what is before you. From a very young age, women are raised to live

up to unrealistic beauty standards imposed by society. People expect them to be hairless all over

their body, must be slim with no tummy but big butt, smell like daisies and roses all the time, do

not have regular bodily fluids and gases, and be an all-around perfect Barbie that is promoted by

the media. Men, too, are now more body-conscious than before. Boys today view the best

“perfection” to become more muscular and overall physique.

In the early 2000s, social media sites such as My Space gained popularity among the

general public. As people's access to smartphones became more widespread, social media grew in

popularity. With the generation of social networking platforms like Instagram, users can craft the

foremost idealized version of their lives and broadcast with innate selectivity to spread ideals of

beauty and attractiveness. As the use of Instagram to influence people got more common, so did

the practice of posting photos of one's outstanding physique. The continuous exposure to the

perfect somatotype on social media and constant comparison to unattainable standards can harm

our body image (Fleps, 2021). In line with Forbes (2018), Instagram-worthy photos become a thing

to people who use the platform. Billions of individuals idly scroll and flick through the lives of

their peers in exchange for the numerical affirmation of another "like" or "comment" as a way of

validating how good their posted content is. This trend made people insecure, particularly those
who were unable to achieve these body proportions, and it encouraged people to engage in

impracticality in order to meet this absurd standard.

According to The London School of Economics and Political Science (2017), Instagram is

the most important social media platform according to 17% of teenagers. Throughout the years,

social media has pushed men and women to adhere to the societal standard of a specific ideal

image. One's self-esteem will be decreased if one believes their inherent characteristics are less

significant in gaining social recognition by complying with these social standards. The pressure to

continue to follow what people see on these social media platforms has become an unhealthy habit

that is directly damaging their lives one click at a time.

The researchers chose this topic to study as they are concerned with the effects of

Instagram's culture on teens' self-perception. Teenagers make up a large part of Instagram's users.

The age group is the most vulnerable as they are often uneducated, making them easy to influence

by trends happening on the platform. These factors made the topic relevant to study for the

researchers as it is also happening more frequently as more people become users of Instagram.

Teenagers who are frequently exposed to Instagram’s beauty-ideal imagery are more likely to

increase their vulnerability to negative comments and opinion about their looks, experience body

insecurities, and feel pressured to conform to the media’s beauty standards. The study would be

conducted at Colegio de Calumpit, Inc., with the participants being Senior High School female

students ages 16 to 18.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Physical standards set by Instagram significantly influence the youth's culture nowadays,

forcing them to comply by making every image of themselves "Instagrammable," representing the
"perfect lie" that the media is displaying. However, this perfect lie is naturally unattainable since

most pictures posted on social media are full of filters, and almost no photo is genuine or

untouched. This research aims to look at how Instagram affects public views of beauty standards

that are gaining momentum and may change people's attitudes. The researchers want to know how

senior high school students' frequent use of Instagram influences their beauty preferences and

affects their self-perception.

1. How may the personal profile of respondents be described in terms of:

1.1 Name (Optional)

1.2 Year and Section

1.3 Age

2. What impact does social media have on a student's perception of beauty?

3. How does media exposure affect students’ mindsets and lower their self-esteem?

4. Do people value physical beauty more than inner beauty?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The focus of this study is to give awareness and enlightenment regarding the beauty

standards set by Instagram. The study will not just benefit the students, but also to the celebrities,

influencers, society, and to the future researchers.

For Students. This study would help students in developing a better understanding of

unattainable beauty standards and how they inhibit them from completely expressing themselves.

They will learn how social media, particularly Instagram, influences people's perceptions. It will

assist them with improving their self-esteem and seeing that their imperfections aren't something
to be embarrassed about. This research can also promote their personality and help them become

more self-assured in all aspects of their lives.

For Celebrities or Influencers. This study would enable them to be familiar with how

teenagers look up to them in order to form their values, goals, beliefs, style, and other

characteristics. Celebrities who flaunt manipulated or unreal images will be able to see how they

damage a teen's self-esteem and corrupt their opinion of themselves, which can lead to body

dysmorphia and eating disorders. They will realize how they may influence the teenager's

personality, opinions, and actions in both favorable and bad ways.

For the Developers. This research will assist them in determining the impact of their

platforms on certain groups of individuals, such as teens. This will also persuade them to adjust

their platform's design or algorithm to not promote body-related messages that lead people or users

to have low self-esteem.

For the Society. This study offers a significant societal benefit in that it helps people

understand how their perceptions of beauty put pressure on young teens and how unhealthy

expectations might impact someone's well-being. It will aid in the reduction of prejudice as well

as raising awareness of the harmful implications that it may have.

For Future Researchers. As an outcome of this study, they will be able to extract

information about the dark side of social media and its influence on beauty ideals.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS

The study is centered on Instagram’s beauty influence and how it affects the Senior High

School students’ self-perception. This research will persuade a broad group of teens on how to be
conscious of their personal limitations as well as how to value their own attractiveness. The

researchers will investigate the high standards that teens strive for and if society values physical

beauty more than the beauty of a person’s heart in order to put a stop to unreachable beauty

standards. In this study, the participants are the current female Senior High School Students of

Colegio de Calumpit, ages 16-18, as it seems that they are the most affected group by this problem.

The qualitative research approach will be used to obtain relevant information about our issue that

will detail information on the population and the phenomenon we intend to investigate. In light of

the circumstances, the respondents will be given uniform online questionnaires to answer that will

detail a teen’s preferences for beauty and how it affects their self-esteem. The researchers will

conduct the study inside Colegio de Calumpit, Inc. S.Y. 2021-2022.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Here are some keywords explained for clarification and to help better comprehend our study:

Beauty standards- Refers to the benchmark set by culture or society that someone's physical

attributes, traits, and features must attain to be considered physically attractive or appealing.

Body Image- Refers to the personal thoughts, feelings, and overall impression of someone about

their own body, physical features, and general looks.

Body proportion- Refers to the overall ratio and measurement of a person's anatomy from the top

of their head down to their toes.

Filter- Refers to software or physical accessories for cameras that alter the colors and shades of

the pixels of images and videos. Some filters also add effects and other graphics to photos and

videos.
Flaws- Refers to an undesirable or unattractive physical or emotional quality that someone has.

Generation Z- Refers to the demographic born between the years 1997 to 2012; the generation

that succeeded Generation X and preceded Generation Alpha.

Influencers- Refers to social media users or personalities that are capable of affecting other users'

decisions and actions because of their massive following, credibility, knowledge, and quality of

content.

Instagram- A Social Media platform focused on distributing photos and short video clips to its

users.

Instagrammable- Refers to visually and aesthetically appealing photographs considered as fitting

or worthy to be posted on the social media platform Instagram.

Internalization- Refers to the incorporation of cultures as a subliminal guide for personal morals

caused by socialization.

Self-esteem- Refers to an individual's personal opinion about themself and their self-value or

worth.

Social media- Refers to online channels and platforms where users can engage in social

networking by sharing ideas by creating threads and posts where other users can also interact.

Somatotypes- Refers to the three-body classifications determined by the physique and body frame

someone possesses.
 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Following a thorough and in-depth analysis by the researchers, this chapter covers the

relevant literature and studies that add to the comprehension of relevant and related data to the

current investigation.

RELATED LITERATURE

According to the study conducted by Shaohai and Ngien (2020) entitled “The Effects of

Instagram Use, Social Comparison, and Self-Esteem on Social Anxiety: A Survey Study in

Singapore”, congruent with the increase in social media use, there are growing concerns that may

cause users to develop social anxiety. This study indicated that managing a wide network of social

media contacts, feeling jealous of their lifestyles, and the fear of missing out on activities in online

interactions have all been linked to social anxiety. The study aims to conduct a survey in Singapore

to learn more about how people's use of Instagram affects their social anxiety by delving into the

platform's fundamental mechanics.

To recruit participants, a weblink to the online questionnaire was distributed through social

networking sites and a total of 388 people were included in the final sample. The results indicate

that Instagram use did not directly increase social anxiety. Instead, the complete mediation effects

were linked to social comparison, a proximal outcome, and self-esteem, an intermediate outcome.

The findings provide substantial theoretical and practical implications for the design of health

campaigns and education in the digital era in order to increase the beneficial effects of social media

on health and emotional well-being. Instagram altered people's online identities and peer portrayals

of idealized beauty and influenced viewers' emotional and psychological responses.

 In addition, Cortez (2020) did a study entitled "Fitspiration and Body Positivity: The

Relationships of Body-Focused Instagram Trend and Movement, Self-Objectification, and

Gender Stereotypical Beliefs" that discussed how Instagram's prominence as an online photo-

sharing service has an impact beyond the internet. This study integrates quasi-experimental and

correlational methods, a research study that does not require a control group, and the groups can

receive different treatments. The chosen research population in this study are the female

undergraduate students of the University of the Philippines Open University. The sample is

composed of 100 people from the general population. The findings give insights into the pros and

cons of the fitspiration trend. While it encourages people to exercise and work out in order to live

a healthy lifestyle, it tends to focus on the social construction of bodies rather than the health

implications. Fitspiration, in other words, supports society's established beauty and body ideals.

The qualitative analysis partially supported the hypothesis of the study that there is a correlation

between state self-objectification and gender stereotypes.

As a result, the implications pervade the tangible world and help to maintain idealistic

standards and stereotypes. Considering the findings, the researcher recommends that media

literacy should integrate into the educational curriculum, that more non-stereotypical and non-

sexual content be created in both mass and social media, and that more local studies be conducted

on the interplay of self-objectification, gender issues, social media, and self-confidence.

Furthermore, Chang's (2019) study, "They See Me Scrolling, and I'm Hating: Instagram

Usage and Its Effect on Self-Esteem and Body Image," presents an exploratory investigation of

the impact of social media, particularly Instagram, on women's views about themselves and their

appearances. The goal of this study is to explore how celebrity photos affect women's body image

and self-esteem when compared to equally attractive peer photos and scenery (control) photos.
This research also implies that state appearance comparison and celebrity adoration can take place

online, and that these activities can help to mitigate the impacts of celebrity image exposure.

Participants in this study were 18 to 35 years old and undertook online questionnaires

regarding regular Instagram usage, the number of individuals they followed on Instagram,

melancholy, and social comparison factors. Participants viewed photos of celebrities, friends, and

vacation places using a smartphone. Instagram use was shown to be somewhat connected to

depressive symptoms and social comparison was found to be significantly associated with

symptoms of depression. Participants who saw celebrity photos were deemed to have lower self-

esteem and a feeling of shame than those who saw both peer and scenery photos. As a result, this

study demonstrates the ever-increasing relevance of Instagram in current self-evaluation and

recommends maximizing the usage of Instagram for self-empowerment.

Similarly, Bagautdinova (2018) did a study titled "The Influence of Instagram Selfies on

Female Millennials' Appearance Satisfaction," which looked at the social comparison theory

through the lens of Instagram selfies and evaluated how selfies affect women's appearance

satisfaction. In order to attain the study's purpose, the publication offered two major research

topics. In-depth interviews with 26 female millennials, ranging in age from 18 to 32, reveal a

significant shift in women's perceptions of feminine beauty, influenced by celebrity and model

selfies on Instagram. Despite the fact that several participants claimed to have a favorable body

image, none of the interviewees stated that they were completely satisfied with their bodies. They

all agreed on the importance of being fit, which includes having little to no body fat, a fit body,

silky, flawless skin, and white teeth. The participant’s goal to boost subjective well-being and

make oneself feel better was the initial driver of the problem.
 Although female millennials look up to superstars to define their ideal figure, the results

showed that when compared to selfies of attractive peers, they had equally strong negative

thoughts. Most crucially, this research has shown that the quantity of likes and comments on a

selfie is essential to female millennials as it play an important role in the creation of her body

image, serving as a symbol of societal approval and, as a result, having a substantial impact on her

self-esteem and impression of her own beauty. Instagram images, alongside their beauty

expectations and standards for achieving perfection, create an unpleasant environment for women's

self-esteem and content with their appearance.

On the other hand, the study "Social Media and Self-Esteem of Filipino College Students

as Mediated by Body Image" by Carinio et al. (2018), concentrated on the unquestionable growth

of social media use by Filipinos, with 83.1% of Filipino citizens partaking in social media

platforms. The purpose of this study was to see if body image influences the association between

social media use and self-esteem among Filipino college students who were randomly selected

from several university departments.

To collect data, a descriptive design was used with an adopted questionnaire and a

developed literature questionnaire. A model for college students' self-esteem was created using

structural equation modeling (SEM). The average time spent per day on social media by the

respondents was 5.06 hours, with the majority of them being continually connected. However,

their daily time spent and frequency of visits to social media have a detrimental impact on their

body image and have no effect on their self-esteem, regardless of their age or gender. The

association between daily time spent on social media and self-esteem was partially mediated by

body image, according to SEM. Before social media may damage Filipino college students' self-

esteem, it must first affect their body image.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Review of Related a.) Administering

Literature online essay-type
questionnaire. Impacts of
Instagram’s beauty-
Profile of the respondents b.) Organizing the
ideal imagery on
according to: participants’
a.) Name (Optional) responses. Senior High School
b.) Age c.) Analyzing the students’ self-
c.) Year and Section perception
responses and
interpretation of
Essay-type questionnaires
data.

Figure 1.0 Research Paradigm

The Input-Process-Output (IPO) approach is used in this study. Figure 1.0 illustrates the

conceptual framework that the researchers will employ to achieve the objectives of their intended

study, in which data acquired from studies related to the research topic will be combined with the

respondent's participation to aid the researchers in the data collection process. The researchers plan

to conduct online surveys that will serve as questionnaires for the respondents' personal profiles

and responses. The information from the respondents will be gathered and organized before being

thoroughly examined. The expected result of the whole process is to see the influence of beauty-

ideal imagery of Instagram on the respondents. With this knowledge, the researchers also intend

to find ways to maximize Instagram's usage for self-empowerment instead of self-discrepancy.

 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

The goal of this chapter is to present the methodological strategies utilized to uncover an

individual's personal experience with social media's effects on beauty standards. The research

method, design, instrument, sampling method, respondents, and data collection methods utilized

to meet the study's objectives are described in this chapter.

RESEARCH APPROACH

The researchers employed a qualitative technique to explore the impacts of Instagram's

beauty standards on Colegio de Calumpit Senior High School students. Qualitative research is a

form of study that enquires into and provides better understanding of real-world issues (Brannan

et al., 2021). It creates a narrative, descriptive account of an area or habit using approaches such

as participant observation or case studies. It focuses on the "why" and "how" of human behavior

instead of the "what," "how many," and "how much," and it is based on people's real-life

experiences as meaning-makers. The researchers believe that utilizing this method is the most

effective way to determine the influence of Instagram on the participants' lifestyles. Qualitative

research collects subjective data from people, such as their ideas and perceptions. The researchers

wanted to discover more about the experiences of Colegio de Calumpit Senior High School

students with relation to the influence of Instagram's standards on their concept of beauty through

this study. Without using statistical data analysis, the researcher will investigate the chosen issue

in order to establish conclusions and recommendations. Qualitative research also demands ongoing

data analysis. Data collection and methodologies are typically adaptable, allowing for adjustments

throughout the research process.

 The qualitative research design used in this study was a case study. A case study, according

to Cherry (2021), is an in-depth examination of one person, organization, or event. A case study

examines practically every aspect of a person's life and background in order to find patterns and

reasons for behavior. Qualitative case study research can be an effective method for addressing

complex, real-world issues. Since it can be used to test hypotheses, it is great for inductive

reasoning. The researchers chose this design because it is best suited to the population. This

method will concentrate on obtaining an answer to the study's main question. This study will look

at how Instagram's beauty standards affect the self-perception of Senior High School students.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

In gathering the data, the researchers used the essay-type questionnaire that was

administered through Google Forms. According to Demarest (2021), Google Forms is a web-based

application that allows people to create data collecting forms. The researchers selected this online

software because it is easy-to-use and a versatile tool. An essay-type questionnaire is defined as a

test item that requires the examiners to construct their responses. It is a device that allows

participants to write any length of response they like. Questionnaires usually consist of questions

that require an explanation from the respondents. Meaning, the respondents are free to elaborate

and write anything about their thoughts and opinions that implies how the researchers could figure

out why a person holds a particular viewpoint or behaves in a specific manner establishing the

basis for a credible research outcome.

In the first part of the instrument, the respondents were asked about their demographic

profiles, which includes their name (optional), age, grade level, and strand/section. The researchers

selected seven (7) questions that could determine the data needed to analyze the inquiries. Each
item undergoes the checking and validation of the researchers’ teacher first to ensure that the

instrument is suitable for its purpose for the study. The questions are arranged in a logical order

from least to most sensitive and from general to specific. In order for the instrument to be effective

and have the precision and accuracy of the respondent's answers, the researchers wrote it in direct

and clear sentences, avoiding high-polluting phrases or terminology during the development

process. The questions tend to focus more on how Instagram impacts its users' beauty-ideal on

what they saw in the application, making the discussion more sensitive as it tackles someone’s

perspectives and experiences. Since the questions in the instrument are somehow sensitive, the

researchers have ensured that the survey would be comfortable for the respondents throughout the

process. The researchers made sure that the respondents' personal information remained treated

confidentially since they are more honest if not identified. Thus, confidential questionnaires are

suitable for examining critical topics. Before the questions, participants were given a brief

explanation of why the study was being conducted. Prior to completing the essay-type

questionnaire, the researchers seek for consent first from the respondents.

SAMPLING METHOD

Purposive sampling was utilized by the researchers to choose participant samples.

Purposive sampling is a qualitative research technique that identifies and selects relevant data

examples in order to make the most of limited resources. It is when researchers choose a sample

based on predetermined criteria. The researchers' major goal in employing this approach is to enlist

a group of people who are exceptionally informed about the subject. Researchers will be able to

get a clearer interpretation of data by using this approach. The researchers decided to focus on

female students because, in theory, female students are more self-conscious about their looks and

physical characteristics than boys, who tend to have higher self-esteem than women. Females are
also more open about their physique and emotions, making it easier for the researchers to collect

their thoughts and opinions using the researchers' questionnaires. It's a crucial method that

demands attempting to develop an appropriate connection between the research topic and the

respondents. This decision makes the data more precise, accurate, and easier to interpret correctly.

POPULATION OF THE STUDY

The researcher chose 15 female Senior High School students in Colegio de Calumpit,

ranging from 16 to 18 years old, as their respondents. The researcher decided to focus on the age

range because adolescence is typically where most people are vulnerable to the influences from

the people around them, including social media influencers that they follow. Adolescence is also

when females undergo significant physical and emotional changes that affect their mentality and

perception of confidence. This change leads them to take many actions to build their confidence

about their physique, like buying beauty products and executing different exercise and diet plans

to achieve their desired physical look. The researchers utilized the purposive sampling method to

allow their study to assess the students' outlook on their opinion about how Instagram's beauty-

ideal imagery affects their perception of themselves.

Research respondent's criteria:

1. The respondents should be Senior High School students of Colegio de Calumpit, Inc.

school year 2021-2022.

2. The respondents should be a female aged around 16-18 years old.

3. The respondent must have used Instagram regularly.

The given respondent's criteria were set to obtain the most precise result to pursue the

research's goal of identifying the impacts of Instagram's beauty-ideal imagery on Senior High
School Students' self-perception. The researchers will use purposive sampling, a type of

convenience sampling, to determine the study's respondents.

Section Number of Respondents

11-STEM B 1

11-STEM C 1

11-STEM D 4

11-ABM A 3

11-ABM B 1

11-TVL HE 2

12-STEM C 2

12-ABM A 1

Total 15
Table 1: Respondents of the Study

Table 1 represents the study's respondents. The study's respondents are 15 Senior High

School students of Colegio de Calumpit, Inc. Academic Year 2021-2022, who satisfies the two (2)

other set criteria. The respondents were divided into eight (8) unequal groups associated with their

grade level, strands, and sections for the School Year 2021-2022. Grade 11-STEM D has the most

respondents with four (4) total respondents, followed by 11-ABM A with three (3) respondents.

The two sections, 11-TVL HE and 12-STEM C, both have two (2) participants each, and four (4)

sections, 11-STEM B, 11-STEM C, 11-ABM B, and 12-ABM A in particular, only have one (1)

participant. The 15 responses from the 15 qualified respondents will undoubtedly be beneficial in

finding the accurate result of the study that the researchers are trying to do.
DATA COLLECTION

The researchers conducted a survey questionnaire to gather the information they need for

this research. The data gathering process takes roughly one and a half days with Colegio de

Calumpit Senior High School female students. Individual research questions and acceptable study-

related topics were used to create the survey. Due to the general present state of the pandemic, the

researchers delivered the questionnaire over Facebook messaging using their personal accounts.

Google Forms was used to create the survey questionnaire, which consisted of seven questions.

First, the respondents are asked if they are willing and able to respond to the essay-style research

questions. The respondents are offered the option of revealing their true identity or remaining

anonymous. The collected data from this research instrument will next be reviewed to check if the

replies are reliable, consistent, and accurate, as well as to see if they can be interpreted based on

the respondents' responses.

 CHAPTER IV

RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

Society's concept of beauty and attractiveness is one of the most significant notions

promoted through the media. Different personalities in today's culture display absolutely

unattainable beauty standards. There is an "aesthetic mentality" among women, according to

Borghini (2019). It is a state of mind in which one contemplates a subject only for the goal of

evaluating it. When women look around, they see expectations of what they should look like all

around them. Beauty standards are problematic and damaging in and of themselves, as they define

which traits are seen most appealing in our culture. These expectations are damaging to a woman's

self-esteem and can lead her to make questionable decisions about her own unique self (Hahn,

2019). However, beauty is more than just a visual experience, it is a perceptual quality that brings

pleasure, significance, or contentment to the senses.

The study utilized the qualitative method as the research approach wherein it does not

require any statistical figure in fully analyzing and interpreting the information gathered from the

respondents. The researchers used an essay-type questionnaire that was administered through

Google Forms as their research instrument for collecting and gathering data from the respondents

that are qualified for the criteria in the sampling procedure.

This chapter comprises the data acquired by the researchers for the study, as well as the

analysis and interpretation based on the statement of the problem mentioned in Chapter 1. This

chapter will present the results from the questions: (1) How does Instagram affect your perception

of beauty? (2) How often do you use filters in your photos? Does the filter you use in social media

platforms like Instagram boost your self-esteem? Explain. (3) Do you have insecurities posting a

no filter selfie? Why? (4) What are the things you consider before posting your photos on
Instagram and why do you consider those things? Elaborate. (5) What do you feel after sharing

your photos? Does the amount of likes you received affect your confidence in posting photos on

social platforms? (6) What feelings are evoked inside of you if you see a picture of someone with

your personal ideal perfect type of face and body? And, (7) Do you believe that physical

appearance, rather than a nice personality, is the most important factor in gaining social

recognition? Explain.

The participants of the study are the fifteen (15) female Senior High School students of

Colegio de Calumpit, Inc. One (1) from 11-STEM B, one (1) from 11-STEM C, four (4) from 11-

STEM D, three (3) from 11-ABM A, one (1) from 11-ABM B, two (2) from 11-TVL HE, two (2)

from 12-STEM C, and one (1) from 12-ABM A. Their ages vary from 16-18, five (5) respondents

are 16 years old, eight (8) respondents are 17 years old, and the remaining two (2) respondents are

18 years old.

Data gathered from the responses:

1. How does Instagram affect your perception of beauty?

As per analyses, 87% of the respondents said that Instagram affects their perception of

beauty in some way. On the contrary, 13% of the respondents said that the platform did not affect

their perception of beauty at all. The most frequent explanation that the researchers saw in the

respondents' response is that other platform users tend to change their perception of beauty as they

strive to look perfect or trendy like most other users. This rise in criteria caused the respondents to

feel insecure, unhappy, and feel like their self-esteem became lower. Some respondents also

described that the filter feature of Instagram made people look prettier, so much so that respondents

said that using filters made them feel more confident about themselves. This adoration for filters
leads respondents to use them as often as possible because they feel less beautiful without them.

The researchers also analyzed that Instagram made some respondents see all kinds of beauty. This

diversity of beauty helped them change their perception of beauty as it aided them in appreciating

all forms of beauty. This brand-new appreciation for all types of beauty helped them value their

flaws and inner beauty.

2. How often do you use filters in your photos? Does the filter you use in social media

platforms like Instagram boost your self-esteem? Explain.

According to the researchers' findings, the respondents use filters in their Instagram-shared

photos as it enhances the quality of the picture, making them appear more pretty. Instagram filter

is an easy, quick way to improve photos before sharing them on social media. Whether in

Instagram itself or another editing app, people can select a filter to apply in their pictures based on

the aura and style they are hoping to achieve. The respondents upload their photos occasionally.

However, they frequently apply these modifications in their posts to make them look more

presentable and attractive. Because of these enhancements, the interviewees' self-esteem has

increased. They claim that it boosts their self-esteem because it conceals most of the flaws and

blemishes a person may have. It also makes them feel that they have met the media's beauty

standard.

3. Do you have insecurities posting a no filter selfie? Why?

The analyses of the researchers gathered that 80% of the respondents have troubles with

their thoughts about posting no filter selfies. The majority of the respondents said they are insecure

about their physical imperfections because they see other users free from the previously mentioned

flaws. They are also afraid of judgmental people who will try to talk about them with others or
bring them down using hurtful comments. Participants also declared that seeing beautiful girls

share pictures of their silky, flawless complexion makes them believe they have the polar

opposite, causing them to compare themselves to others.

On the contrary, 20% of the respondents said that they have no trouble posting no filter

selfies as they like and are confident in how they naturally look, and they also want to inspire other

people to not be insecure in posting non-filtered selfies themselves.

4. What are the things you consider before posting your photos on Instagram and why

do you consider those things? Elaborate.

According to the researchers' findings, 40% of respondents think about the aesthetics of

the images they are going to share. The respondents make certain that the photographs are well-

edited and are suitable for their Instagram feed. An Instagram feed can be thought of as a personal

portfolio that displays one’s personality and interests. In other words, the more appealing it is to

the eye, the more engagements that a person will get on the page. Establishing an aesthetic or

theme is one of the best strategies to get Instagram followers. People will identify one’s identity

with the theme designed and images will become more identifiable as a result (Ganta, 2021). The

good quality, lighting, filter, angle, and caption are the things that must be present in the photos

before uploading it since respondents believed that aesthetics is the essence of Instagram.

However, 27% of those interviewed responded in the opposite way. Two (2) participants

said they do not actually consider anything and do not upload any images, while the other two (2)

simply bothered about the photo's privacy. Furthermore, before exposing their faces to the media,

33% of respondents examine the beauty and attractiveness of their faces. The respondents'

apprehensions about probable judgment or opinions from others are the reason for these
considerations. One of the respondents indicated that these considerations are done for them to be

“katanggap-tanggap” or acceptable for today’s standards. People, particularly teens, yearn for

acknowledgement and praise. As a result, Instagram aesthetics extends much beyond what most

people can imagine.

5. What do you feel after sharing your photos? Does the amount of likes you received

affect your confidence in posting photos on social platforms?

According to the results of the researchers' evaluation of gathered data, half of the

respondents have different feedback and emotions after uploading their photos online. 5 (33%) of

them felt anxious and had been overthinking as they considered their followers' impressions on

their posts. They tend to question themselves about what others would say about their shared

photos. There is also a case wherein the respondent is having a second thought if they should keep

the pictures posted or archive them. On the other hand, 4 (26%) of the respondents have a positive

attitude after sharing their posts. They feel satisfied as they think that the photos they posted came

out well and passed their standards. Some of them stated that whenever they receive interactions

in their post, they feel more confident and feel appreciated by others. However, the other almost

half of the respondents (41%) did not mention how they felt after sharing their photos.

The number of likes and engagements that the post receives matters among 8 (53%) of the

respondents. According to them, seeing such responses from their followers make them feel more

validated and appreciated. It agrees with the Social Identity model of Deindividuation Effects

(SIDE), which explains how online social affirmation can lead to a person's participation in

collective action. According to the model, public expression of identity and identity-relevant

norms strengthens one's identification, which leads to normative behavior, regardless of whether
out-groups view such behavior positively or negatively. The interviewees' confidence grows as a

result of a large number of favorable interactions they receive. And that is the reason why people

tend to strive more to present the best and a good image of themselves to their followers and

audience.

6. What feelings are evoked inside of you if you see a picture of someone with your

personal ideal perfect type of face and body?

According to the researchers' analyses of the data they have gathered, when the respondents

see a posted photo of a person with their desired type of face and body, the majority of them feel

insecure, envious, and anxious. People sometimes become envious of others' posted photos of

slimmer bodies and smaller faces, and they underestimate the value of their worth. However, some

respondents expressed gratitude for what they have and who they are rather than feeling envious.

One of the respondents said, "We just have to appreciate our own beauty inside and out." Even

while there are people who are jealous of others, it is clear that few people appreciate themselves

for who they are and acknowledge their worth.

7. Do you believe that physical appearance, rather than a nice personality, is the most

important factor in gaining social recognition? Explain.

According to the researcher's analysis of the data acquired, the majority of participants

(80%) disagree that physical attractiveness is far more valuable than personality. According to the

respondents, physical beauty is merely a bonus, but having a lovely attitude is a huge plus. Beauty

is skin deep, and physical appearance does not guarantee someone's beauty on the inside. As said

by one of the respondents, "There is no advantage in achieving social recognition if you are
changing yourself merely to avoid being judged negatively by others." Participants emphasized

that a good character helps foster a healthy environment rather than superiority.

On the other side, 2 (13%) of them believed that physical appearance is the most important

factor because beauty is something that everyone desires. Most individuals only provide praise

and admiration to attractive people, as stated by the respondents. However, 7% of the participants

indicated that whether personality comes first or vice versa depends on one's perception of what is

more valuable.
 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter incorporates the analysis discoveries from the data collected in the previous

chapter, the conclusion gained based on the study’s findings, the limitations of the study that the

researchers discovered all through the study, and recommendations which account for valuable

impacts on the specific problems recognized in Chapter 1.

The purpose of this study was to determine the Impacts of Instagram's Beauty-ideal

Imagery on Senior High School Students' Self-perception. The researchers intend to develop a

better understanding about the opinions and experiences of Senior High School students of Colegio

de Calumpit regarding the effects of Instagram’s beauty standard. This study was conducted to a

total of 15 female participants, who were selected using a purposive sampling technique.

SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS

The findings of the study were as follows:

1. Most of the respondents claimed that Instagram affects their self-perception as it obliges

them to keep up with the trend and strive for a perfect-looking face and body, while 13%

of them stated that the platform did not affect their perception of beauty at all.

2. The respondents' adoration for filters leads them to use them as often as possible, and with

the filters' absence, they feel less appreciated. Respondents claimed that it boosts their self-

esteem, for it covers most of their flaws and blemishes and makes them feel that they

belong to today's beauty standard.

 3. 80% of the respondents have trouble posting a no-filter selfie because they are afraid of the

judgment of others regarding their physical imperfection. In comparison, 20% of them have

no problem with posting a no filter selfie, for they fully accept and embrace their flaws.

4. Out of the 15 respondents, 6 (40%) of them examine the aesthetics of the image they are

going to share, while 5 (33%) of them consider their beauty and attractiveness. These

considerations are done in order to be socially acceptable. Further, the remaining 4 (27%)

respondents stated that the only thing they give attention to is the image's privacy or that

they do not post any pictures.

5. 5 out of 15 respondents stated that they overthink the impression of others after they post

a photo. On the other hand, 4 out of 15 respondents indicated that they feel satisfied and

confident as they believe that the photo came out well. However, 6 out of 15 respondents

did not mention their feelings after sharing their photos. Furthermore, the engagements and

interactions received by posting a photo on Instagram matter to 53% of the respondents.

6. The majority of the respondents felt jealous and insecure about others' posted photos

featuring their perfect type of face and body. However, some of the respondents claimed

that they felt nothing since they expressed appreciation for their own beauty.

7. Among the 15 respondents, 80% of them believe that attractiveness is merely a bonus, but

personality is a big plus, which means that attitude must come first before beauty. However,

13% of them claim that everyone desires attractiveness, and people value it more often.

While the remaining 7% stated that it all depends on one's comprehension and perception

of what is more valuable.

CONCLUSION

Based on the study's findings, the following conclusions are acquired:

 1. Instagram's major social component media, especially photo sharing, is the most impactful

to female Senior High School Students.

2. The filter feature of the platform is the most helpful for students, as it helps them hide the

qualities they are insecure about or want to keep for themselves, making them feel more

confident about the photo they are about to publish or post.

3. Majority of the respondents have issues posting a no filter selfie because they are afraid of

people’s judgment.

4. Image’s aesthetics as well as its appealability to other people are the foremost thing to

consider before sharing it to the media because people are worried about others' opinions

and judgment if the photo's qualities are not up to today's standards.

5. Instagram's photo-sharing component is not all negatively consequential. This component

also promotes beauty diversity which students acknowledge as a great help in the

betterment of appreciation of other types of beauty and inner beauty.

6. Personality is more valuable than physical appearance because it fosters a healthy

environment. Also, physical appearance is merely considered as an extra quality rather than

a quality they should prioritize obtaining.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Although the researchers' study met its aims and was properly planned and well-

coordinated, the researchers are aware of the following limitations and deficiencies:

● This study was performed and conducted solely at Colegio de Calumpit, and no other

schools were included.

 ● The researchers decided to focus on the opinions of Grade 11 and 12 senior high school

female students about social media and its effects on beauty, and did not include other years

or grade levels.

● The participants are only limited to 15 female Senior High School students from Colegio

de Calumpit, ranging in age from 16 to 18 years old.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The researchers were able to come up with ideas for the study's auxiliary development and

to help incorporate more concepts that would be relevant for future researchers performing related

studies after completing thorough assessments of the data acquired. Here are some

recommendations:

For Students. This research encourages students to build their self-esteem and shows them

that their flaws are not something to be ashamed of. Furthermore, the researchers urge students to

improve their personalities and gain confidence in all parts of their life. Because students will have

a better grasp of unrealistic beauty standards and how they prevent them from fully expressing

themselves as a result of this research.

For Celebrities or Influencers. The study recommends celebrities who flaunt modified or

unrealistic images would be encouraged to stop or lessen uploading excessively edited photos,

allowing them to appreciate the simple and natural beauty they possess. This research could

educate and inform them about the consequences and the teenagers' experiences as they look up

their looks, styles, fashion, and other characteristics they present and share on the internet,

particularly on social media.

 For the Developers. This research suggests to creators on modifying the platform's

algorithm to suppress body-related content that causes people and users to have low self-esteem.

As this study gives them the awareness of how impactful their platforms are on adolescents, it

would be beneficial as they evaluate its ideas and concepts.

For the Society. This research advises people to acknowledge a variety of factors and

considerations in establishing their beauty standards, as not everyone is capable of being and

meeting the concept of perfect beauty. This study suggests that society should lessen the pressure

they impose on people as they follow the media's beauty perception because it has an unhealthy

impact on someone's well-being.

For Future Researchers. The research team recommends future researchers to conduct

face-to-face interviews with respondents, which allows respondents to clarify their replies or seek

clarification on any of the questionnaire topics, as well as the researchers to record the respondents'

emotions and actions.

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