Instagram Bans Cosmetic Surgery Filters

We all use face altering filters on Instagram. Some of them are cute, some of them are funny, and some of them let us distort our faces by giving us bigger lips and smaller noses – leaving some users wondering if they look better with these alterations. But now, in a bid to prevent negativity and promote wellbeing, Instagram has decided to stop featuring selfie filters that mimic the effects of plastic surgery.

Spark AR, Facebook’s augmented reality development, recently released a statement announcing they’ll no longer carry filters that are associated with plastic surgery.

“We want Spark AR effects to be a positive experience and are re-evaluating our existing policies as they relate to well-being. While this happens, we’re doing the following:

  • Removing all effects associated with plastic surgery from the Instagram Effect Gallery
  • Postponing approval of new effects associated with plastic surgery until further notice
  • Continuing to remove policy-violating effects as they are identified”

Users will still be able to use those funny animal and selfie filters; however, the platform believes eliminating cosmetic surgery filters will help reduce the number of young people undergoing plastic surgery and also protect the wellbeing of its users.

It won’t stop body dysmorphia, but it is a positive baby step in the right direction. And just one step further in removing the stigma around mental health and social media.

Latest Posts

Alright, content creators, gather ‘round – Instagram’s dropping two big updates this week, and one of them might just save you from those “Wait, what was my next line?” moments. 1. Instagram Edits Now Has a Built-In Teleprompter (Finally!) Let’s be real: reading a script off-camera without looking like a…
Read More
If you hate face-to-camera videos on LinkedIn, I get it. But here’s why you’re wrong. It started with a chat.I was talking to a few brilliant marketers the other day, and someone said, “I really can’t stand those face-to-camera videos on LinkedIn. They’re cringey.” And you know what?I understood exactly…
Read More
Sticking to brand guidelines fuels creative success on social media. True creativity isn’t about doing anything; it’s about doing the right thing, and in our world, that means staying aligned with each client’s brand guidelines. When we follow a brand’s guidelines, including fonts, colours, tone, imagery style, and logo use,…
Read More