Social media has always taught people to erase all flaws. It is a landscape where beauty reigns supreme, and perfection seems just a filter away. However, this bottomless scrolling on Instagram or TikTok for perfection also perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards, wreaking havoc on one’s self-esteem, mental health, and collective perception of beauty.
Social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, have become arenas of competition, prompting more people to alter their appearance, from using Photoshop and makeup to even plastic surgery to fit in. The French government recently took a significant step towards promoting body positivity by promoting an ‘anti-filter’ Bill, that will make it mandatory for influencers to disclose the use of filters and Photoshop. The law requires any commercial photos that had been retouched to make a model’s body appear thinner or thicker to be labelled “photographie retouchée” (retouched photograph) to indicate it to viewers. It also bans the promotion of plastic surgery.