Enhanced Beauty, But at What Cost?
Beauty filters, those magical tools that can turn an ordinary photo into something out of a fashion magazine, do more than just enhance our selfies. A Spanish study involving 2,748 participants, published in Royal Society Open Science, found that filters increased perceived attractiveness in 96% of cases. So far, so good—that’s the intention, after all. With a filter, we instantly appear more beautiful
, more trustworthy, and even more sociable… but there are unintended consequences.
The method was straightforward: participants were shown only one version of a photo, either unedited or edited. The results? Post-editing, 75% of faces were deemed highly attractive, compared to just 17% before editing. Clearly, the filters work. But the real issue lies elsewhere.
Entangled with Stereotypes
Indeed, not everything is perfect, especially for women. The study revealed that men perceived women as less intelligent after filters were applied. Yes, less intelligent. Conversely, men appeared smarter when their photos were retouched. Does this sound familiar? Those old stereotypes where beauty
equates to dumb
? Sadly, these stereotypes are still thriving.
Researchers warn about the impact of these stereotypes, which can severely distort the perception of women’s capabilities, particularly in professional settings or in everyday life.
Beauty filters, by promoting perfect and unattainable faces, drag down our self-esteem. Worse, they encourage actions like cosmetic surgery or permanent concealment. Eventually, we may start to dislike our true faces—and wonder if we should change something.
Towards a More Honest Selfie?
TikTok has already responded by limiting filters for teens. But is that enough? Between anxiety, body dysmorphia, and these damaging stereotypes, it might be time to rethink our approach. After all, do we really want our selfies to make us look cool… but foolish? It’s something to ponder between edits.