The consequences of these unrealistic expectations are far-reaching. Young girls and women alike are left feeling inadequate, as they compare their own lives to the seemingly perfect online personas of others. The constant bombardment of airbrushed models and celebrities has created a culture of competition, where individuals feel compelled to present a perfect exterior, rather than embracing their unique qualities.

You can be imperfect — fully, messily, unfilterably — without performing it for the net.

The blue checkmark stayed, but the girl behind it finally started to feel real. She realized that while the network verified her identity, her imperfections were what actually connected her to the world.

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