A quarter of us, and nearly HALF of Gen Z, can only handle selfies with a filter, research shows
- A survey shows that 40 percent of 16-25 year olds want to change their appearance in real life
One in four Britons and nearly half of Generation Z won’t post a selfie on social media without filtering or editing it first, according to research.
A survey of more than 2,000 people has revealed that frequent exposure to “perfect” images on social media is damaging people’s mental health.
This is particularly evident for the younger generation: 40 percent of 16-25 year olds admit that they wanted to modify their facial appearance due to social media filters.
It comes as parliamentarians and experts warn that a new TikTok filter designed to make users more “attractive” in videos is having a negative impact on body image.
Since its launch a month ago, more than 15 million people have applied the ‘bold glamour’ filter, which adds makeup, adjusts bone structure, smooths skin and plumps lips.
One in four Britons and nearly half of Generation Z won’t post a selfie on social media without a filter or editing first, research finds (file image)
The report from health and wellness brand Origym surveyed 2,130 social media users aged 16 and over.
One in four respondents said they wanted to change their appearance to how they looked after using filters on the platforms.
While more than half of those under 35 said their mental health had been affected by constantly seeing “picture perfect” images shared on social media.
But exposure to such high beauty standards seemed to have the most profound effect on the image of Generation Z, whose average daily screen time is estimated at eight hours a day.
A third of those aged 16 to 25 said it made them feel ugly, while one in four said it made them think their body wasn’t “normal”.
When asked what kind of feelings it made them feel, a third said it made them want to lose weight and that they weren’t attractive enough.
Dr Asalet, an aesthetic doctor, said while wearing the bold glam filter: “The younger generation is growing up now and they think this is normal, they’re going to try to do a lot more surgeries and a lot more procedures just to be able to try to fit in.
“Please see this as a public health announcement, this is something we need to try to change, when you show up on social media you don’t feel like you need to use a filter.”
Survey shows 40 percent of 16-25 year olds want to change their appearance in real life (file image)
Other users reported feeling ‘humiliated’ when using the new filter, with one user even saying it ‘looks ugly’ when the filter is removed.
TikTok adds a tag on videos where it’s been used, but it’s removed when it’s posted on another platform.
Previous Girlguiding research found that nearly half of young women ages 11-21 regularly used apps or filters to look better online.
