Editor for South Asian Studies Yashee Singh is a Research Assistant at the Free University of Berlin, where she contributes to the COMUTE project (Semi-automatic Collation of Different Language Ver…

Hosts Mikala and Yashee talk all things friendship in episode 4 of the Two Blunt podcast. #lifestyle #health #wellness

Yashee and Mikala reveal just how far they went to edit photos of themselves for social media when they were younger, and discuss its impact on their mental health in this episode of the Two Blunt podcast. #lifestyle #health #wellness

Yashee and Mikala, hosts of the Two Blunt podcast, discuss their experiences with extreme photo editing on social media during their younger years. The episode explores how the pressure to present a flawless online image affected their self-esteem and mental health. They reveal the lengths they went to alter their appearance through filters, airbrushing, and other digital manipulations, highlighting the unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by social media platforms. The conversation also touches on the long-term psychological effects of these practices, including anxiety and body dysmorphia. While acknowledging the cultural shift towards more authentic self-representation in recent years, they stress the importance of mindful social media use. The article underscores the need for digital literacy education to help young people navigate online pressures healthily. It also raises questions about platform responsibility in curbing harmful beauty standards and promoting mental well-being. This discussion is part of a broader conversation about the intersection between technology, identity, and mental health in the modern era.