Lot think people who use beautifying snapchat filters are pathetic and fake

[Dodooodoo]

A few months ago I noticed a lot of people on whatsapp and FB looking incredibly prim and proportioned. It made me feel shit as I thought I'd really let myself go after kids and so have been having regular facials and bought new make up. I suffer from hyperpigmentation and I also have facial hair which really makes me conscious about myself. i have also put on weight around my face and stomach due to not eating on time and healthily.

Anyway, I recently downloaded snapchat for the rainbow sick filter (kids!) and I started dabbling with the other filters and realised my slightly crooked nose was fixed, my skin perfect, and my jawline proportioned. Even my slightly uneven eye size was proportioned. I was shocked because I looked like me but a prettier version. I realised that the lighting and the way my face sat was the same as what other people have been using and posting.

I would never dream of posting this fake prettier picture of myself because it's so far removed from what I look like! Why would people feel comfortable using this?

I feel stupid because I didn't think I was the type of person to worry about things like this, but when I saw everyone looking exceptionally beautiful I automatically thought I was not normal...I'm angry at myself for thinking like this.

Anyway, I didn't mean for this to be a long post..!

It's not really their fault you're that behind with technology, is it?
I thought everyone knew about this stuff (well, everyone in a position to be looking at other people's social media pictures anyway)

..to say you feel conned makes you sound as if you know absolutely zero about the culture we live in.

I do understand the culture we live in. We're all being conditioned and expected to look perfect. It's horrible. I can't believe I got duped into it.

Yes ofcourse I know adverts are photoshopped but now it's available to everyone. It's like we're all plastic.

I know my own insecurities are also to blame how I feel, but doesn't anyone think it's shit that these filters have the power to make people and young girls in particular feel shit about themselves?! I'm a 33 year old woman and I was duped. Can't imagine being a teenager in this day and age.

I think you're being a bit harsh. I don't personally use them just because I don't give a shit what I look like, I am who I am and if people don't like the way I look because I have freckles or because I'm a bit pale etc then fuck them. I don't really see why so many people are hung up on the way that they look and I actually feel sorry for people who will only post edited photos on social media, it must be horrible to constantly feel that judged by people who are presumably friends to an extent you feel you can't just be who you are with them.

That's FB for you, I'm afraid and it's not just their photo some people are altering, they air brush their whole lives. It's all about presenting themselves in a flattering way and making their lives look amazing.

..and that's the reason I don't go on Facebook.

Ehh why do you care? I don't think it's pathetic to post a retouched picture any more than it is to wear make up. I think you probably need to work on your own self esteem. I couldn't care less what pictures other people post and they don't make me reflect on how I see myselfx

"...people who use beautifying snapchat filters are pathetic and fake?"

"...it's shit that these filters have the power to make people and young girls in particular feel shit about themselves..."

Dodoo - can you see the irony of posting such a judgemental OP, whilst worrying about making people feel bad about themselves? How is it OK for you to make people feel bad for being 'pathetic and fake', whilst judging others for making people feel bad?

It's definitely a sign of insecurity to post selfies. Especially heavily edited. And don't get me started on The Duck Face...

OP, did you just post a thread off piste and got a bit carried away with yourself? I understand what you mean but the way you've expressed it is entirely bizarre.

Yes SDT, I do. But it's a vicious circle isn't it? You're made to feel inadequate so you use a filter and then make the next person feel inadequate.

Sorry if I'm not making sense, I find posting coherently hard sometimes. aLeafFalls has put down what I mean better than I could. Maybe I was a bit harsh using "pathetic" and "fake"...although it is definitely fake.

I think it's obvious when they've been used. My DDs do it as a joke. I never thought people would think they were real, I thought it was a bit of fun.

But DDs don't post the pics anywhere I should say.

Aren't you just excusing yourself for being nasty and judgemental by blaming the culture?
So people use filters, so what? Who are you to judge them?

If you can't see a pore it's safe to say a filter has been used. Sometimes they're filtered so much you can see nostrils but no actual nose!

The snapchat one also straightens and make your face symmetrical...a filter that changes the colouring I can understand, but the beautifying filters that straighten your nose and make your chin smaller are just unnecessary.

But it's a vicious circle isn't it? You're made to feel inadequate so you use a filter and then make the next person feel inadequate.

Yes, I agree with you. I also feel the same way about waxing, manicures, makeup, serums, hair products ... it feels like the bar is constantly being raised as to what "normal" looks like and if we don't keep up we'll look crap (or feel we do) by comparison.

I loathe selfies (I always seem to come out really ugly, like a different face to what I see in the mirror!) and so I understand why people feel the need to Photoshop themselves, but I never would.

I see obviously doctored selfies on FB (skin so smoothed over it looks waxy) which attract tons of compliments. I just roll my eyes a bit So I get what you mean, OP. My main worry would be that people would think I looked super rough in real life!

I wonder if this happens on dating websites? Someone not only using a photo from years ago but photo shopping it as well? That would be a shock on your first date

I wondered that too, ILost.

"Why did you send your Dad along for our date, Gary?'