Today, altered images are ubiquitous; the fairytale world threatens to engulf our own. The illusion is more complete, too – with digital technology it's harder to see any flaw on a model. Many people feel strongly that retouching should be banned entirely, but any form of media censorship isn't good either. It would be virtually impossible for a high profile fashion magazine to publish an issue without any retouching at all. That in itself would be a publicity generator, and it would help in dissolving the myth of fairytale beauty. According to Newsweek, the retouching of photos has become so mainstream it is not only expected but also demanded from Hollywood publicists.

Magazine editors believe their readers are not being deceived because they know the images have been altered.

But do the readers really know this? According to clinical nutritionist Alexis Beck, most girls do not know the extent to which the photos are retouched and, if they do, it does not really resonate inside their head.
Tim Lynch, a photographer that has been in the business since digital photography was first introduced, is an expert at creating the "ideal image." He is able to soften the lines on a model's face and erase all signs of sun damage, as well as elongate a neck, whiten teeth, brighten and sharpen eyes, and gave the body a "natural" looking tan. With the industry's limitless ability, should women believe they could look like this with a little more self-discipline?

A new study on eating disorders suggests that prevention begins with getting girls to realize the images they see are not real. The excessive exposure to retouched images has had a profound effect on peoples' perceptions. They believe what they see is healthy and attainable, when in reality it is neither. No longer is average acceptable. If you are not a size 2, you are subjected to being called fat – or worse.

There was a recent article published in The New Yorker on a man named Pascal Dangin who "tweaked a hundred and forty-four images" in the March issue of Vogue magazine – 107 were for advertisements.

According to a study performed by Dove, by the time a girl turns 12, she will have been exposed to 77,000 advertisements – most of which will have been retouched to convey perfection. By the third grade, 42% of girls will want to be thinner, and by age 10 they will fear becoming fat.
With the retouching epidemic on the rise, this picture perfect world has created much controversy. Readers have become enraged at "photoshopped" images. As a result, a backlash against digital retouching has emerged. Photo editors have indeed gone too far. Are we risking our own health in letting the idea of perfection reach unattainable levels? Young women are risking their lives to look like the girls they see in magazines. Perhaps a disclaimer on retouched advertisements and magazine spreads can restore reality before an entire generation of women is corrupted by clear complexions and near-perfect features.

People have been exposed to so many retouched images that perfection has become a reality we are exposed to every day. The advertisers use perfection so that we feel inferior without their products and photographers use it to make their images more appealing. It is the media's subliminal craftwork that has made us believe we are the root of the problem, when in fact, is appears to be the other way around. All this results in one thing: societal pressure to look perfect because we all deserve nothing less.

Let's take a look at what Port Credit and Streetsville think about photo retouching:

"I am on the fence about this whole issue. Sure, photo retouching is impacting our youth, especially girls, but it seems like an issue so far-fetched and complex that there is no way of turning back now. After all, it is these images which sell products and add to the success and hype of celebrities. If we take that away, we risk losing an important part of the entertainment world." – Peter (Port Credit)

"Personally, I think everything is alright in moderation. Let's face it, the average person is so infatuated with celebrities and the world of Hollywood because everyone looks so beautiful. Tweaking a wrinkle or a blemish here and there doesn't seem like such a big deal." – Monique (Streetsville)

"I definitely agree that this is affecting our younger generation. I am a grade 4 teacher and I am shocked, almost every day, at what the girls say to each other. They ask each other if their shirt makes them look thin and if their jeans make their hips look good. If girls at the tender age of 10 are already so concerned with their image, just imagine the lengths they are willing to go as they reach high school." – Sheila (Port Credit)

"I am appalled at the state of today's fashion industry. Girls are now obsessed with their image and have forgotten how to just be kids. The pressure indirectly put on them is already making girls act much older than their age. I see girls in the mall frantically purchasing pounds of makeup and $100 sweaters. It is absolutely ridiculous." – Deena (Streetsville)

"I think this debate has gone too far. The world of Hollywood glamour and fashion is such a powerful force. Why bother trying to change a system that saturates so many markets in the world of teens?" It's useless trying to fight an uphill battle." – Jason (Port Credit)

"I think photo retouching has gone way too far. I took my daughter and niece out to buy dresses for a wedding and their self conscious comments broke my heart. They are such skinny girls but their friends at school are constantly checking calories on their snacks at lunch to make sure they don't gain weight. It is difficult promoting healthy and positive habits about health and body image in a world that is constantly sending negative messages." – Parvati (Streetsville)

"We should all try and realize that the reality is, photo retouching is here to stay. Whether we like it or not, educators and professionals need to promote natural looking media forms and reinforce the wholesome values that the industry forgets to advertise. Having these types of computer-oriented courses in school will give students a more accurate understanding of what experts in the field do to images so we can have a better grasp on reality." – Abby (Port Credit)

"Well, I think we're taking the whole thing too far. We can't stop such a powerful force in the consumer market. All these perfect images have simply changed the way we live. We just have to deal with it and try and find it within ourselves to be content with our body image and more importantly, ourselves." – Vanessa (Streetsville)