A filter is a photo effect that is applied to images before publishing them which can be a simple black-and-white, a floral crown, or the like.

Such filters are available on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, and many other social media and editing apps.

The social media filter craze began back in 2015 and was introduced by Snapchat wildly. Later on, there were reports on how these filters were affecting the mindset of young kids and their reality, creating low self-esteem and eating disorders among people.

Filters are a big part of our lives today. While it boosts confidence, it also has harmful mental health effects such as obsession.

A study shows that we spend approximately 5-6 hours on social media every day. Teenagers spend 8-9 hours on social media.

So, who is to blame for our addiction? Filters or its Obsession?

All filters are not bad. Some filters are funny while some can make your picture look better. Face filters that add a cartoon to your face or make your face look funny like sun baby on Instagram are fun. Even filters with beauty enhancers are good to go if you’re looking to amp up your look a bit.

Filters help you boost your confidence and happiness. They make you look good by enhancing your existing features. Some filters are there to play with, like Moonrise by biancaaisabela and many more. They increase your photo saturation and contrast to make it pop up!

So, what’s the problem?

The trouble begins when you start becoming obsessive over these filters. Filters make you look flawless, but they are unreal at the end of the day. Right?

The biggest mistake we do with filters is that we don’t know where to stop.

Slowly & gradually, they take over our consciousness & make us feel inferior in real life.

We start enjoying the fake pleasures from this perfect unreal self that we create. We feel good that we also fit into the beauty standards of orthodox society.

At the end of the day, we must acknowledge there is a difference between who we are on social media and in real life. Social Media is just a part of your life, not your whole life. You must realize real life is different from reel life.

Every beautiful woman out there, who thinks that only filters will make them beautiful, should be aware of this fact & how it takes over one’s self-image mentally.

Here are some real-life stories of instagram influencers such as “Emma Chamberlin” and famous tiktoker “Charlie D’ Amelio” both suffered from eating disorders because of social media pressure of perfect beauty standards, which innocently started from using filters and photoshopping daily.

Now, they encourage their followers to ask for help if needed as there is nothing to be ashamed of. They explain how filters are supposed to be for fun. They should not turn into an addiction.

These are the major effects we face because of filters:

• Negative Body Image

We use filters to have fun or sometimes to make ourselves look pretty. Some filters add the dog’s ears to our face while some turn us into a Pixar character.

Then there are some other filters commonly known as beauty filters which give us almost a new face by erasing under-eye bags, enlarging the eyes, slimming the face or erasing double chins, and many more. Excessive use or obsession with these filters leads to a negative body image.

Images created by filters of unrealistic beauty standards make us excessively focused on comparing our face and appearance with it which makes us self-conscious.

• Low Self-Esteem

When we value and respect ourselves emotionally, physically, and spiritually, it concludes as good self-esteem but filters alter us. They modify our eyes, enlarge our lips, and sharpen the nose.

This whole process makes us re-think our bodies. We start comparing ourselves with the unrealistic version created on social media. When we can’t achieve the unrealistic version of ourselves that we have built inside our minds, it develops low self-esteem leading to anxiety and challenging situations.

This issue leads to several other issues such as not eating and sleeping properly, poor relationships with friends and family, and turning down the fun days.

• Anxiety

Social Media is not a happy place. A part of that media is always criticizing and judging others. This creates a sense of fear in us which later leads to anxiety. The fear of judgment by your appearance is the worst of it all.

Uneasiness is there through this experience which leads to serious psychological issues. Anxiety leads to Bulimia and Anorexia triggered by face filters available on various social media.

• Challenging Mental Situations

The perfect version of ‘you’ created by these filters creates anxiety within you for your body image. This anxiety with time if sometimes triggered can lead to a challenging situation.

People perceive themselves as unattractive in front of their ‘filtered version’. Their vision gets blurred because of beauty filters.

The cause of this dissatisfaction is when you start viewing yourself from the perspective of others. You compare yourself to the social media influencers and celebrities, who are filtered and edited by professionals. Anxiety steps in with challenging situations next when you can’t live up to these expectations.

Here are few of the solutions and tips for you:

• Accepting You

1. Acknowledge your reality and yourself.
Begin with small steps. Start accepting your situation; it will lead to a better future. Stop dealing with yourself, and start acknowledging yourself. It can do wonders for your mental health. Try to understand yourself and your body better.
2. You are imperfectly perfect.
No one in this world is perfect. We all do hard work to attain perfection instead, we all end up with excellence. Stop neglecting yourself. Rather, focus on becoming a better version of yourself. People on social media are not always happy. They all wake up with puffy eyes, messy hair & bloated face. We all are human, and we all have issues.

• Art of Self-Acceptance Your happiness begins the moment you start believing in yourself. Stop this impulse of comparing yourself to every other individual you see.
Start loving yourself. It is the prime step in your self-acceptance. Self-love is a journey on which you should be growing. Start appreciating yourself for being physically, emotionally, and mentally unique.

• Introduce your Real Self online
Start with small steps. Post your unfiltered pictures online. It might seem hard at first, but later it would become the best feeling ever. This action not only boosts your confidence but might also motivate others.

• Surround yourself with people who lift your real self up & inspire you to be real. What you need in your life are people who can tell you that it is okay to be not okay. You don't have to be perfect to be loved. What you are and how you are, makes you the best of all. You shall not change anything about yourself. Be true to yourself and surround yourself with people who do the same for them.

Feeling good about yourself and being optimistic is for everyone. If you need help during that procedure there is no need to feel ashamed. In a healthy mindset, you will be more efficient in your life and work.

People might judge you at first but those same people will appreciate your progress later. Believe me, everyone appreciates what they can relate to, & which is being authentic

Life and Spiritual coaches can help you boost your self-love and confidence. They provide the guidance you need for your journey of accepting yourself.

Conclusion

Filters are there for you to have fun with and not for you to be consumed by them. They promote ideal beauty standards which are not reality. The reality is your love for yourself and the acknowledgment you have for yourself.

Surround yourself with people filled with self-love and care. Follow social media & channels that promote the same.

Check one now, Coachgurpreet

Remember, you decide your worth, no one else.

Not a person! Not a filter!