'Selfie Harm' Photography Project Demonstrates The Frightening Impacts Of Social Media On Teenagers

Inadequacy is something most teenagers go and grow through; insecurity is as expected and well-known as Garfield hating Mondays. The pressure of appearances, especially on vulnerable teens, can only be exacerbated by the non-stop stream of idealised life on social media. It's difficult to measure though, and the real-life effects were always a touch elusive... until now. The influence of these platforms that leave no room for self-doubt could not be made clearer than in the photography series Selfie Harm.

This new photography series demonstrates just how much power social media holds. British photographer Rankin and MTArt Agency partnered with creative agency M&C Saatchi in this new venture, where they asked teens to perfect their photos until they were fit for social media. The rise of airbrushing apps has allowed for incredible ease of correcting perceived flaws in one's appearance; it's no wonder then why teenagers struggle to accept who they are, if they can easily become a more polished version of themselves in just a few taps.

It begs the question: just how much is the perfectionism of social media damaging our teens? These photos will show you all you need to know - and the results are alarming.