Beauty is a pervasive characteristic that torments the youth of today's societies because mainstream media persuades them that inner beauty is less important than physical beauty. Unfortunately, the media's distorted perception of what real beauty is has been broadcast in such a way that it has become an unhealthy observation for today's youth. Beauty expectations are unacceptably stereotyped, creating unrealistic idealistic goals for our young people to strive to achieve. It is crucial to mention that as a society we must strive to teach the right balance between the two aspects of beauty to compensate for the media's portrayal of what true beauty is. The media has created an obsession with perfection through the use of technology through digital enhancement of still and moving images of models, musical artists, athletes, and actors. From enlarging muscles and chests to erasing wrinkles and slimming the waistline, airbrushing has been constantly used to influence our younger generations' unattainable idealistic goals of perfection. We need to correct the media's distorted portrayal of beauty in the minds of our youth through education, as it helps encourage low self-esteem and low self-esteem in our youth. “Numerous studies have shown that exposure to certain stimuli through media can lead to body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and idealization of thinness in some individuals” (Cohen, 2006, p. 15). These portrayals contribute to poor body image and eating disorders, which contribute to rates of self-harm and suicide among our younger generations. A survey of adolescents in grades 7 through 12 in 2003 found that 30% of girls and 25% of boys had been teased. by friends about their weight...... middle of paper ......Anorexia? Social pressure, psychology or serotonin? Retrieved from: http://www.tree.com/health/eating-disorders-anorexia-causes.aspxNew, Michelle PhD (2012). Children's health: about adolescent suicide. Retrieved from: http://kidshealth.org/Pavlishina, Olya (2012). Teenage Self-Harm - Teenage Cutting. Retrieved from: http://www.integrity-counseling.comNew, Michelle PhD (2012). Children's health: about adolescent suicide. Retrieved from: http://kidshealth.org/National Eating Disorder Association (2012). The impact of media images on body image and behaviors: a summary of the scientific evidence. Retrieved from: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/uploads/file/The%20Impact%20of%20Media%20Images%20on%20Body%20Image%20and%20Behaviours%206%20Nov%281%29.pdfConfucius (most famous of China teacher, philosopher and political theorist, 551-479 BC). Retrieved from: http://thinkexist.com