I'll certainly agree with you there. However, I think technology has made validation easier and easier for some to achieve. Merely the ability to curate the photos we post online allows us to get an inflated sense of self. One is perceived as much more attractive if one only shows the best 1% of their self-curated photos! One's apparent public image can also be crafted by carefully presenting only the socially acceptable hobbies, musical choices, etc. I have observed this effect on Tinder, which provides one microcosmic example.
I'm unaware of an analog for this effect that predates social media and camera-phones. The level of ubiquity was simply not there with personal ads, which seems to be the closest to come immediately to mind.
I think this ends up being bad for everyone. Here's a bit of data you may have already seen:
https://theblog.okcupid.com/your-looks-and-your-inbox-8715c0f1561e
"As you can see from the gray line, women rate an incredible 80% of guys as worse-looking than medium."