In the 20 years since the debut of Christina Aguilera’s song “Beautiful”, the pop star has released a new video for the classic that emphasises the effect of social media on young people’s body image and mental health.
A generation of young fans learned this lesson from the 2002 global smash song: “You are beautiful / no matter what people say / words can’t tear you down.”
“In the last 20 years… social media has transformed our relationship with our bodies and, in turn, our mental health,” a message at the end reads.
“Research suggests that time spent on social networking sites is associated with body image issues, self-harm, and disordered eating in children and teens. This needs to change.”
The message, according to a BBC report, is accompanied by the image of a smartphone in a pool of blood.
Earlier in the video, directed by Fiona Jane Burgess, expressionless young people look at their phones and do not interact with each other before being marked up for plastic surgery.
They then wipe off the marks before going to play together happily in the woods.
Aguilera said the video’s release was to mark the 20th anniversary of her album Stripped and World Mental Health Day, encouraging her followers to “take your space, log off, put your mind, body, and soul first”.
