The Filter Factor

A decade of facial filters on photo-sharing apps has moved them from digital decoration to a cultural norm—but does this change in use mean a shift in mindset? The first foray into filters began as cartoonish masks of floppy-tongued pets that were used to make Snapchat selfies more playful. Then they became beautifying tools for editing photos on Instagram to make skin smoother, lips fuller and jaws slimmer. This phenomenon was developed into full-blown apps that are still popular, particularly on Chinese and Korean social media.

Several studies in recent years have pointed to the damage that social media can do to mental health due to the constant barrage of “perfect” bodies and faces—often created using filters. In 2020, an article journal reported that cosmetic surgeons were seeing an increase in patients requesting procedures to make them look more like their “filtered” selves. But not all associations are negative.