Mirror, mirror… Teens' obsession with looks leads to Web beauty contests

Being beautiful isn't everything.

But according to recent statistics, it does have a lot to do with the amount of attention you get as a child, the kind of friends you'll make, what kind of job you'll have, how much you'll earn, and other outcomes of life.

Pictures of the way life should be are on every magazine cover.

Along with our never-ending expectations for the techno-world to make daily living easier, experts say the standards for aesthetically pleasing people have risen as well -- especially for young adults.

"Being attractive is important to everybody," said Dr. Lawrence Clark, a professor of psychology at Southeast Missouri State University. "But the younger generation is the basis for attractiveness."

And recently, the techno-world has gone the extra mile to make life easier.

Web sites like www.HotorNot.com are allowing Internet-savvy teens the chance to post pictures of themselves in order to see if their face -- rated on a scale from 1 to 10 --really is as easy on the eyes as they had hoped.

Some may come out of the experience with a well-fed ego, while others may come to realize the outside world doesn't think their abnormalities are as "special" as their parents said they were.

"I do worry about people who have a vulnerable self-concept," said Clark. "If they don't get the ratings they're looking for, it might hurt their sense of self."

So who is to blame for these unrealistic standards?

Some people might shrug their tanned shoulders and turn to look in the mirror, while many are pointing their well-manicured fingers toward Hollywood.

"Consumers always want to know what the latest fad is," said 18-year-old Southeast freshman Whitney Stamp. "If we support these Web sites and magazines, then the companies will keep dishing it out simply because of the fact they are making money."

And although the emphasis on beauty was once aimed mainly at women, the male aspect of it, known as the "metrosexual," has become almost as prominent, says Clark.

Southeast sophomore Drew Boyd has also noticed the increasing importance of looking like one of today's favorite actors or actresses.

"If we can look like someone who's famous, then that really raises our self-esteem," he said.

Some believe that the phrase "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me" no longer applies today.

So is there any way to soften the blow?

"A lot of it has to do with the way they're raised," said Clark. "It can make them a little more resistant to the people around them."

Students like Boyd worry about the future of a generation that relies on the approval of others.

"I'm sure society will become more shallow, because we find new ways to make ourselves feel better," said Boyd. "Even if it really means hurting ourselves in the long run."

Sam DeReign is a sophomore at Southeast Missouri State University. Contact him at sdereign@semissourian.com