Think about the concept of “pretty privilege” and how that affects the social media world:

Suddenly, I was let in, and I did nothing to earn the attention my prettiness granted me. I soon saw that people stared and smiled, offered me seats on the bus and drinks in the club, complimented me on my appearance, and held doors open. This was partly how I experienced pretty privilege — the societal advantages, often unearned, that benefit people who are perceived as pretty or considered beautiful.

Pretty privilege can give way to more popularity, higher grades, more positive work reviews, and career advancement. People who are considered pretty are more likely to be hired, have higher salaries, and are less likely to be found guilty and are sentenced less harshly. Pretty people are perceived as smarter, healthier and more competent, and people treat pretty people better. Pretty privilege is also conditional and is not often extended to women who are trans, black and brown, disabled, older, and/or fat.

Source: Beauty Beyond Binaries: Being Pretty Is A Privilege That We Refuse to Acknowledge | Allure

Society has numerous privileges including:

• When you are born during the year (greatly effects ability to compete in sports and carries over into adulthood).
• Which year you were born in (especially impactful if your birth date puts into the job market as an adult, during an economic downturn versus a thriving economy)
• Where you were born, geographically. Even if you move elsewhere, and for unknown reasons, this affects your economic success later in life.
• Height privilege. Tall people are likely to see better job opportunities, are paid more for each extra inch of height, and height is frequently associated with leaders.
• Weight privilege. Being overweight, especially for women, can lead to a reduction in income.
• The time you were born in history. Malcolm Gladwell, in Outliers, noted the roll of luck of being born at the right time for many of the people we view as leaders in tech. They came of work age just as the burgeoning new “high tech” made possible by low cost microcomputers and software emerged. They were in the right place at the right time to take advantage of this; hence, the important role that luck plays.
• Hair color privilege. An odd study out of Australia found women with blonde hair earned an average of 7% more than women with brunette hair (for people in Australia – might not apply to other countries or the benefit could be larger or smaller – but the pattern has been observed in other countries too).
• Health privilege. Being free of disease or disabilities from injuries (visible and invisible) confers big advantages.
• Growing up in a richer family bestows advantages (like buying your way into USC, the university for spoiled children!), but also access to other activities and experiences that play an important role later on in life.
• Easy to pronounce name privilege – those with difficult to pronounce names are at a disadvantage.
• Minority status or not, and where you live. Being a minority in some areas bestows negative privilege and in others may be a positive.
• Being male or female bestows privilege in differing contexts.
• Attractive female wait staff in restaurants get greater tips but this does not extend to attractive male wait staff.
• Those judged more attractive are likely to have more social contacts, which can translate into many benefits.
• Being attractive leads to greater likelihood of being hired for a job.
• Being attractive causes people to trust you more.
• Related: At various points in time, some social media has favored attractive young women in terms of views. (Female privilege?: An estimated 84% of social media influencers are female – Social Panic (coldstreams.com)) This may be because some research suggests women share more online, post more selfies but also receive more negative feedback. Women also tend to post more “head shots” featuring eyes, while men tend to show more full body and/or group photos. Related: A few years ago, internal documents from TikTok revealed their algorithm promoted videos of persons judged pretty or wealthy and intentionally deemphasized videos from people who were not good looking or rich, or who were older – the effect was to promote young attractive people who appeared to have money).
• The privilege of age – which varies depending on the context. An older physician may be viewed as wiser than a young physician, yet an older software developer may be viewed as out of date. In the era of social media, youth is everything. About two years ago there was just one person over the age of 40 in the top 200 Youtube channels (Jonathan Schmidt of The Piano Guys.) Instagram’s top influencers are predominately attractive young women in their 20s and early 30s.

As you can see, the concept of privilege is complex. Each of the above attributes, except for hair color, is basically unchangeable and may have long term effects. The weight of each attribute also varies depending on each individual – these attributes do not have uniform impacts across the population.

What does this have to do with social media?

Plenty. First many people “came of age” at just the right time to become “social media marketing experts”.

In the example of Instagram, “pretty privilege” is enormous. Pretty people posting pictures of themselves garner far far more views and followers than non pretty people. In terms of followers, and post likes we suspect pretty people handily beat all others.

“Pretty privilege” is often ignored yet in the social media world, its impact is profound. It is clear that some social media stars are well aware their good looks have great impact on their online destiny although others seem oblivious to the role that it has played for their success and merely believe they are brilliant or special (hah hah).

More in this past post: Is “pretty privilege” a “thing” on social media platforms? – Social Panic (coldstreams.com)

Update April 2024

I asked Microsoft Copilot about this issue and here is it’s response:

Pretty privilege is a concept that has gained prominence, especially on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Let’s delve into what it means and why it’s a topic of debate:

1. What is Pretty Privilege?
   • Pretty privilege, also known as beauty bias, posits that conventionally attractive individuals receive advantages due to their looks.
   • These advantages extend beyond personal interactions and can impact various aspects of life, including career opportunities, social interactions, and even legal outcomes.
   • Essentially, people who conform to societal beauty standards are often afforded more opportunities and benefits.
2. How Does Pretty Privilege Manifest?
   • Social Media Validation: On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, being considered attractive can lead to more likes, followers, and positive engagement.
   • Career Advancement: Attractive individuals may be more likely to be hired, receive higher salaries, and receive positive work reviews.
   • Legal System Bias: Studies suggest that attractive people are less likely to be found guilty and receive less severe sentences in legal proceedings.
   • Popularity and Trust: People tend to trust those they perceive as beautiful, which can impact social interactions and marketing efforts.
3. Why Is It Toxic?
   • Pretty privilege perpetuates an unfair system where physical appearance influences opportunities, regardless of other qualities like personality, skills, or talents.
   • It reinforces unrealistic beauty standards and can lead to feelings of inadequacy for those who don’t fit these norms.
   • The desire for validation through likes and social media popularity further emphasizes the societal privilege associated with attractiveness.

In summary, pretty privilege exists, and acknowledging its impact is essential for promoting a more equitable and inclusive society¹²³. ????

Gemini AI had this to say

Pretty Privilege on Social Media: Double-Edged Sword

Pretty privilege, the unearned advantage given to those who meet societal beauty standards, is a force on social media. Here’s how it plays out:

Amplifying Beauty Standards:

• Focus on Aesthetics: Social media thrives on visuals, and attractive people often garner more attention. This reinforces narrow beauty standards and creates pressure to conform.
• Influencer Culture: Many influencers leverage their looks to build followings and score brand deals. This can create a sense that attractiveness is the key to success.

Advantages for the Attractive:

• Increased Engagement: People considered attractive often receive more likes, comments, and shares on their posts.
• Brand Opportunities: Companies might target attractive people for endorsements or sponsorships, giving them a financial edge.
• Confirmation Bias: We tend to trust attractive people more, which can translate to online success.

But It’s Not All Perfect:

• Superficiality: Focusing solely on looks can lead to shallow content and inauthentic connections.
• Pressure and Scrutiny: The constant pressure to maintain a perfect image can be mentally taxing. Attractive people also face online harassment and objectification.
• Limited Representation: The focus on a narrow beauty standard excludes many people, impacting self-esteem and social acceptance.

Shifting the Focus:

• Content Over Looks: Social media can be a platform for showcasing talents, ideas, and experiences, not just appearances.
• Body Positivity: Movements promoting self-love and acceptance of all body types can challenge beauty standards.
• Curating Feeds: People can choose to follow accounts that celebrate diversity and focus on things beyond looks.

Pretty privilege is a complex issue on social media. While it offers advantages, it can also be limiting and create unrealistic expectations. By being mindful consumers and creators, we can use social media to challenge narrow beauty standards and promote a more inclusive online space.