In this modern day of Snapchat, Instagram and other such social media apps and websites, first impressions mean everything for meeting new people. When dealing with long distance conversations and an arbitrary number of “friends,” having a good-looking face is more important than it might seem. Because of this phenomenon, people across the world have been fluffing their pictures up by removing blemishes or making their eyes a bit bigger. While a little touching up here and there never hurt anybody, it does get to a ridiculous level.

If applying heavy amounts of Photoshop to a picture is the only way to feel better about self-image, such a person should not really use social media. Only someone shallow enough to believe that looks are the only important parts of a person would stoop so low as to artificially change some pictures taken on a whim. It is a part of modern culture to strive for perfection, but nobody is perfect; pretending to be so only points out even more personal flaws.

Using excessive Photoshop is also straight up lying. By lightening skin, brightening eyes or bolstering certain body parts, the original person is making a statement that says, “I think everyone is shallow and people only want to be friends with sexy people, like me.” By trying to amass a large amount of followers who fit that description, Instagram users are able to remain relevant, and what was supposed to be a social website becomes a competition for the highest amount of likes.

Is one a bad person if he Photoshop his pictures? Not at all, but it is still evident that this culture is heading toward being a shallow and trivial mess of people trying to be the most popular individuals out there. Humanity has been heading down that road for a while, but with the rise of social media and the connectivity of the Internet, it is easier than ever to attempt to be Mr. or Mrs. Popular rather than making actual personal connections.