Nandito na ang mga Istetik!
Have you ever wondered what the meaning of aesthetic is? Ever found yourself being told that you’re very much aligned with a certain aesthetic? Or did you ever wonder why we often seek the visual appeal of something?
From the images we see, down to the outfit we wear and the food we eat, the way we design our things, our phone’s wallpaper. For everything that we see, we try to look for that visual value.
In the youth of today, the idea of being or seeing something pleasing to the eye is of utmost importance, often leaning more into the more aesthetically pleasing ones; what exactly drives that behavior?
“Aesthetics” is originally defined as the philosophical study of beauty and taste. Appreciating something for all its worth, from its flaws to its greatness. A concept where the beauty lies in how you interpret it (Scruton, 2025).
As social media grows and becomes more widespread, especially sites like Instagram that are more image-based than word-based, like other websites. It creates a culture that is based on visuals. Image-based websites allow for what we call a “visual-based culture” to form (Marwick, 2015).
Courtesy: Vouge
And as this visual-based culture grows, the youth have somehow found a new meaning for the word “aesthetic”; now it refers to the combination of fashion, makeup, hairstyles, music, and other cultural elements that is associated with a look or a vibe, which are subject to different aspects.
The modern youth are often drawn to that aesthetic appeal as a result of social media, like Instagram or TikTok, that allows youth to share visuals and find other people who share the same aesthetic vibe with them (Belle Visage, 2024).
Courtesy: Philippine Resources
It’s when we see those impressive photos taken and posted on Instagram with just the view or whatever they were wearing or doing that day, or when their entire page is filled with a single color to fit a certain vibe that they want, or maybe it’s those hunger-inducing pictures of foods that they ate or those simple videos with the time and maybe a life update.
Courtesy: Pinterest
It’s those “Get Ready with Me” videos that show their lifestyle and what they use and what they do to get ready to start the day. Or maybe, you’ve heard of the phrases “coquette”, “goth”, “cottage core”, “academia”, or “dark academia”. These are prime examples of the different kinds of aesthetics that the youth often use in their room decorations or their outfits.
Courtesy: Pinterest
The ability to find the perfect aesthetic for themselves also allows them to find comfort in their own body, to identify themselves, and to differentiate themselves from the crowd. As aesthetics not only allow the youth to have a way to look appealing to the eye but also to self-express and to find their own people in the forms of influencers, idols, or even brands, thus helping increase (or in some cases, decrease) their self-esteem.
Because of their ability to find these aesthetics, they can be influenced by the beauty standards set by different kinds of aesthetics; whether it can be good or bad solely depends on the person who uses that aesthetic, as it can increase or decrease a youth’s body image in order to find their “perfect” selves.
In a world where the youth seek their individuality and their selves in the online world, the way that aesthetics help in helping them fit in a certain crowd and find people like them ultimately leads them to have a sense of discovery.
What about you? How do you define aesthetics? Does it help your self-esteem? Are you able to find your “perfect self? Do you think the way that the youth has changed the meaning of aesthetics and fitted it into their generation is a good thing?
What do YOUTH think? What do YOU think?
References:
InfraTeamAdmin. (2024, October 29). Teen aesthetics: What teens mean by aesthetic. Belle Visage Medical Aesthetics. https://belleburlesonmedspa.com/teen-aesthetics-teen-mean-when-they-talk-about-an-aesthetic/
Scruton, Roger, Munro, & Thomas. (2025, March 28). Aesthetics | Definition, Approaches, Development, Meaning, Examples, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/aesthetics/Emotion-response-and-enjoyment
View of visual culture in social media: A study on the influence of Instagram on aesthetics and youth culture trends. (n.d.). https://ejournal.mdresearchcenter.id/index.php/ajmc/article/view/18/16