Sincerity in the era of vanity

By six in the morning, Mo Xiaoyu was already in her office. Spread out on her desk was the latest research report, "A Study on the Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health." The data in the report worried her: over 80% of teenagers said they felt anxious about negative comments on social media, and nearly half admitted to comparing their appearances to influencers.

"Teacher, you're here early." Li Xiaoyu pushed the door open, tablet in hand. "I just received an urgent case that needs your review."

The protagonist of the case is a 22-year-old girl named Xiaoya, who was once a popular anchor on a well-known live-streaming platform. Three months ago, she suffered facial nerve damage due to excessive plastic surgery. Now she has not only lost her job but also suffered from severe depression.

"Where is she now?" Mo Xiaoyu closed the report.

"She is hospitalized in the Psychology Department of Union Hospital. The attending doctor said her condition is very complicated, with both physical sequelae and serious psychological problems."

Mo Xiaoyu immediately headed to the hospital. In the ward, she met Xiaoya. Even after multiple reconstructive surgeries, her face was still unnaturally swollen, and her eyes were hollow and lifeless.

"Xiaoya, I'm Mo Xiaoyu." She sat down gently on the chair beside the bed. "I heard you used to be a very good anchor."

Xiaoya mechanically turned her head and said in a hoarse voice, "Before? Now he's a monster."

Through patient communication, Mo Xiaoyu gradually understood Xiaoya's story. Two years ago, Xiaoya was an ordinary college student. A dance video she accidentally uploaded went viral online. After signing with an agency, her life trajectory completely changed.

"During my first livestream, someone said my nose wasn't straight enough," Xiaoya recalls. "Then the criticism got worse and worse—my eyes weren't big enough, my face wasn't V-shaped enough, and even my hairline was criticized."

At the company's suggestion, Xiaoya embarked on a journey of plastic surgery. From simple injections to multiple major surgeries, she underwent more than ten plastic surgeries in two years.

"After every surgery, someone would say it looked a little better, but then there would be new criticisms," Xiaoya's voice crackled with tears. "I'm like a wound-up spring, I can't stop."

Mo Xiaoyu gently held her hand: "During this process, did anyone ask you if it hurt?"

This sentence seemed to trigger a switch, and tears welled up in Xiaoya's eyes: "No... never..."

After leaving the hospital, Mo Xiaoyu felt heavy-hearted. She immediately called a team meeting and decided to conduct an in-depth study of internet celebrities and livestreamers.

The survey results are shocking. Among the 50 online anchors interviewed:

90% said they had experienced anxiety due to negative comments

75% admitted to having undergone cosmetic procedures

60% had taken anti-anxiety medication

What’s more, three anchors had to end their careers due to failed plastic surgery

"The pressure this group faces is far greater than we imagined," Li Xiaoyu said during her presentation. "They live surrounded by cameras and comments, and many can no longer distinguish between their real selves and their on-camera selves."

What worries Mo Xiaoyu even more is that this "appearance anxiety" is spreading to younger people. During a survey at a middle school, they found that some junior high school students have already started saving money for plastic surgery.

"A lot of girls in my class want double eyelid surgery," a ninth-grade girl told the researcher, "because internet celebrities all look like that."

Faced with these findings, Mo Xiaoyu decided to take action. She first contacted several major live-streaming platforms, hoping to collaborate on a mental health program for their hosts. However, the response was unexpectedly cold.

"Ms. Mo, we understand your good intentions," said the head of a platform bluntly, "but this is the rule of this industry. The audience is king, and the anchor must cater to the market."

After hitting a wall, Mo Xiaoyu changed her mind and approached Xiaoya, inviting her to participate in a special project.

"I'd like you to make a documentary about your experience," Mo Xiaoyu said, "not to gain sympathy, but to help more young people like you."

At first, Xiaoya resisted: "I am like this now..."

"It's the way you are now that is most convincing." Mo Xiaoyu said gently but firmly.

With the support of a professional team, Xiaoya began filming the documentary "The Price of Beauty." In front of the camera, she bravely showed her face after plastic surgery and talked about her mental journey over the past two years.

"I used to think that becoming beautiful would win everyone's love," Xiaoya said tearfully in front of the camera. "But now I understand: if you don't even love yourself, how can you expect others to love you?"

After the rough cut of the documentary was completed, Mo Xiaoyu organized a small screening for the film, with the audience including anchors, agency representatives, psychologists, and several officials from the Ministry of Education.

After the screening, a long silence fell. A senior agent spoke up, "I admit, this industry does have problems. But we have to survive..."

"Survival should not come at the expense of young people's mental health," said an official from the Ministry of Education seriously.

After the screening, things began to change. First, a well-known talent agency contacted the foundation, hoping to provide mental health services to its streamers. Then, several livestreaming platforms expressed their willingness to explore potential collaborations.

Even more gratifying is that Xiaoya gradually regained her confidence during this process. She began to study psychology and decided to pursue a career in psychological counseling.

"I want to help young people like me who are lost in the eyes of others." Xiaoya said to Mo Xiaoyu.

However, just as the project was beginning to show success, a new challenge arose: a medical beauty clinic sued the foundation, accusing the documentary of "defaming the image of the medical beauty industry."

"This is a typical tactic of suppression," the foundation's legal advisor analyzed. "They want to make an example of someone."

Faced with pressure, Mo Xiaoyu did not back down. She publicly spoke out on social media:

"We are not against medical beauty, but we are against the blind pursuit of beauty at the expense of health. True beauty should be based on health and self-confidence."

This statement received widespread support. Even more surprisingly, several well-known medical experts also came out in support, demonstrating from a professional perspective the harms of excessive plastic surgery.

At the same time, Mo Xiaoyu began to push for deeper reforms. She collaborated with several psychologists and educators to compile a "Guide to Youth Media Literacy Education," aiming to help young people develop correct aesthetic and value perspectives.

"We need to address the root causes of the problem," she said at the writing group's first meeting, "not only by treating those who have been injured, but also by preventing new injuries."

One weekend afternoon, Mo Xiaoyu was invited to participate in the recording of a youth TV program. During the program, she met a 14-year-old girl who shyly told her that her dream was to become an internet celebrity.

"Why?" Mo Xiaoyu asked gently.

"Because internet celebrities are beautiful and have a lot of fans."

Mo Xiaoyu thought for a moment, then pulled out his phone and showed a clip from Xiaoya's documentary: "This sister was once very beautiful, and many people liked her. But do you know what she regrets most now?"

The girl shook her head.

"She regretted not realizing sooner that true charm comes from a rich heart, not a perfect appearance."

After the show was over, the girl's mother approached Mo Xiaoyu and said, "Thank you. My daughter has been clamoring for plastic surgery for a while now, and no matter how we persuaded her, it was useless. Today, she really listened to your words."

On the way back, Mo Xiaoyu looked out the window at the huge beauty advertisements and sighed deeply. She knew that there was still a long way to go to change society's aesthetic standards.

But at least, it's started.

That night, she wrote in her work log:

"Seeing the sparkle in a 14-year-old girl's eyes today has made me even more resolute. We must protect not only the physical health of young people, but also the purity of their hearts. In this glamorous age, helping every young person find their true self is perhaps the most precious gift we can give."

Late at night, Mo Xiaoyu was still revising the first draft of the "Media Literacy Education Guide." She knew that every effort she made could help a young person avoid the traps of beauty and find their true shining point.

When external standards drown out the inner voice, loss begins