Perfect: Feeling Judged on Social Media

by Rosalind Gill

Social media is replete with images of 'perfection'. But many are unrealistic and contribute to a pervasive sense of never being good not thin enough; not pretty enough; not cool enough. Try too hard and you risk being condemned for being ‘attention-seeking’, don't try hard enough and you're slacking. Rosalind Gill challenges polarized perspectives that see young women as either passive victims of social media or as savvy digital natives. She argues the real picture is far more ambivalent. Getting likes and followers and feeling connected to friends feels fantastic, but posting material and worrying about 'haters' causes significant anxieties. Gill uses young women's own words to show how they feel watched all the time; worry about getting things wrong; and struggle to live up to an ideal of being 'perfect' yet at the same time ‘real’. It's the wake-up call we all need.

Genres: Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

Published November 20, 2023

Reviews

[Rocío VC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reflects the reality that people face daily on social media. The surveillance society, the pressures of perfection, and socialization in the digital era are some of the main topics explored in this work. It also discusses new alternatives to social media, contrasting them with traditional platforms that focus on an idealized version of reality (e.g., Instagram).

Regarding the analysis, the book is descriptive and includes excerpts from interviews. It is easy to read and engaging, especially for those who are new to this topic.

In conclusion, it is a highly interesting book that examines the digital neoliberalism and gender pressures associated with social media.

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

anything ros gill 🫶🏼

[Kayla Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is current, intersectional, and speaks on the pervasive toxicity of social media culture. An important read for media studies, as it articulates many thoughts young women are privately having.

Surveillance, comparison, fear of being perceived, and the labor of producing social media content are just a few of the aspects I resonate with that were touched on in Perfect:Feeling Judged On Social Media.

I think the book could have also mentioned more on parasocial relationships within the social media world as well.

[Sasha Watson Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly so needed for my dissertation, this is definitely going to help me