Filter (social media)
They initially simulated the effects of camera filters, and they have since developed with facial recognition technology and computer-generated augmented reality.
[1] The American photographer Cole Rise was involved in the creation of the original filters for Instagram around 2010, designing several of them himself, including Sierra, Mayfair, Sutro, Amaro, and Willow.
[8] An update in 2014 allowed users to adjust the intensity of the filters as well as fine-tune other aspects of the image, features that had been available for years on applications such as VSCO and Litely.
[11] In September 2015, Snapchat acquired Looksery and released a feature called "lenses," animated filters using facial recognition technology.
[18] In February 2023, Effect House gave opened up the access to generative AI tools that allowed creators to change facial features in real time.
Typical effects of such filters include smoothing skin texture and modifying the proportions of facial features, for example enlarging the eyes or narrowing the nose.
Filters may be included as a built-in feature of social media apps such as Instagram or Snapchat, or implemented through standalone applications such as Facetune.
In 2020, the "Perfect Skin" filter for Snapchat and Instagram which was created by Brazilian augmented reality developer Brenno Faustino gained more than 36 million impressions in the first 24 hours of its release.
[24] In 2021, TikTok users pointed out how the default front-facing camera on the platform automatically applied the retouch and other feature-altering filters.
[25] In March 2023, the "Bold Glamour" filter was released on TikTok and instantly went viral with over 18 million videos created within its first week.
[26] Critics have raised concerns that the widespread use of such filters on social media may lead to negative body image, particularly among girls.
This ease of use, in combination with the increase in processing power of smartphones, and the rise of social media and selfie culture, have led to photographic manipulation occurring on a much wider scale than ever before.
[31][32] It has also been noted that beauty filters on social media tend to highlight Eurocentric features, like lighter eyes, a smaller nose, and flushed cheeks.
[38] The term "Snapchat dysmorphia" was coined by cosmetic doctor Tijion Esho to describe patients who presented to plastic surgeons seeking procedures to mimic the effects of filters, such as a narrowed nose, enlarged eyes, fuller lips, and smoothed skin.
These results indicates that WhatsApp and Facebook are primarily user to connect with close friends and family, while applications such as YouTube, Tinder, and Snapchat are used on a larger social scope and are dependent on self-appearance.
[50] In 2020, it was reported that 600 million people monthly were using augmented reality filters on Instagram or Facebook, while 76% of Snapchat users were using them daily.
