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Once viewed as playful enhancements, facial filters—also known as augmented reality or face retouching—have evolved from cute puppy ears and flower crowns to more complex features that smooth complexions and reshape facial features. Major social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, offer these filters, and many of us have our favorites. I often find myself adding kitty ears during Facebook Messenger chats after a few drinks; they make me feel cuter and enhance my features. We’re all just digitally altered versions of ourselves, even if we’re nearing forty.
Teenagers, however, have grown up immersed in a culture of selfies and filters. A young girl named Mia shared with MIT Technology Review that she started using filters in fifth grade and felt they made her look more attractive. “It’s like the coolest thing ever to look older and prettier,” she remarked. But what happens when the filtered version of ourselves does not align with our real appearance? We are essentially conducting a grand social experiment, often at the expense of teenagers and young women.
The Ubiquity of Filters
Carla Johnson, a makeup artist and photographer, highlighted a troubling trend: many women are hesitant to appear without filters. “They believe they look like the filtered version of themselves,” she noted. She admitted struggling with this pressure herself, feeling the need to alter her appearance digitally to feel attractive. Even video conferencing platforms like Zoom now provide options to “touch up” one’s appearance.
Teen Vogue pointed out how celebrities like Kim Kardashian showcase their beauty treatments while still relying on filters to present the best version of themselves. If even public figures like Kim won’t go without a filter, it raises the question: who can step into the digital world without one? With statistics showing that 63% of teens aged 13-17 use Instagram daily and a significant portion of Snapchat users are also teens, it’s clear that filters are a normalized part of their online presence.
Beyond Simple Smoothing
Apps like Facetune and Meitu allow users to manipulate their facial features extensively. Don’t like your nose? You can shrink it. Want bigger eyes or fuller lips? It’s all achievable with a few taps. A young user, Jamie, expressed her frustrations about the time she spends on such apps, noting, “I’m constantly bombarded with images that are edited to perfection.” This raises concerns about the authenticity of self-representation among teens.
According to MIT Technology Review, teens describe the “Instagram Face” as having a small nose, large eyes, clear skin, and plump lips. These filters that alter facial features are becoming increasingly popular, despite Facebook’s previous ban on them due to their association with plastic surgery.
Mental Health Consequences
Heather Monroe, a licensed clinical social worker at Newport Academy, emphasizes the clear correlation between social media usage and body image issues. As teens measure their real appearances against the flawless, filtered images of their peers, they can experience significant declines in self-esteem and rise in mental health issues. “This constant comparison to an unreachable ideal can have dire consequences on mental health,” she stated.
Dr. Mia Patel, a psychology professor, pointed out that the negative effects of social media on mental health, including anxiety and depression related to physical appearance, are well-documented. The widespread use of Instagram and its filters can lead to obsessive concerns about looks, contributing to severe conditions like body dysmorphic disorder.
The prevalence of facial filters is so significant that many individuals even bring edited photos to plastic surgeons seeking to replicate their digital appearances. In fact, a survey indicated that 55% of plastic surgeons reported patients requesting to look better in selfies, a sharp increase from 13% in 2013. This reality forces teens to believe that the augmented images they see should reflect their real lives, leading to feelings of inadequacy when they don’t.
Facial filters may seem harmless and fun, but they foster an environment where young girls feel they must conform to unrealistic beauty standards. In a world increasingly dominated by digital alterations, we risk raising a generation that believes they are unattractive without retouching.
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Summary
The widespread use of facial filters on social media has profound implications for teen self-esteem and mental health. As these digital enhancements become the norm, young women increasingly compare themselves to unrealistic standards, leading to various psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphic disorder. The normalization of altered images raises concerns about the long-term effects on self-image and mental well-being.