Is vanity a sin? Filtering apps have become hugely popular with people who want to look good on social media. But experts warn that they might be bad for your mental health.
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Growing calls to ban photo enhancement
Is vanity a sin? Filtering apps have become hugely popular with people who want to look good on social media. But experts warn that they might be bad for your mental health.
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What's happening?
Kirsten looks at her latest selfie. She thinks she looks okay - but maybe she could look even better.
Her filtering app has many suggestions. She can whiten her teeth, remove her spots and swipe away the circles under her eyes. Within minutes, the picture has totally changed: now she can put it on InstagramA social-networking service that allows users to share photographs and videos.!
All of these changes, and more, are possible on apps anyone can buy on their phone. Kirsten could even change the shape and size of her eyes.
FaceTune 2, one of these apps, has been downloaded over 200 million times. Some think it is not a big deal. But others are worried that the apps might harm people's mental health.
Research by the soap company Dove found that 80% of girls have used an app to change their looks by the age of 13. Of those who do, 48% worry about how they look.
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Experts are worried that people might look at edited photos and wonder why they do not look the same - when in reality, even the person in the photo does not look like their picture.
Norway has a law saying that influencersPeople who influence others on social media. must make it clear when they have changed a photo. PoliticiansSomeone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country. in Britain and France are thinking about making similar laws.
Yes! It is not good to judge anyone on their appearance - that includes ourselves and other people. It is what is inside that matters.
No! Everyone cares about how they look. There is nothing wrong with trying to look as good as you possibly can.
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Is it wrong to be vainThinking very highly of yourself or your appearance. ?
Keywords
Instagram - A social-networking service that allows users to share photographs and videos.
Influencers - People who influence others on social media.
Politicians - Someone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country.
Vain - Thinking very highly of yourself or your appearance.
Growing calls to ban photo enhancement
Reality show, or director's cut? At least 95 million videos and photos are uploaded to Instagram every day. Glossary
Instagram - A social-networking service that allows users to share photographs and videos.
Influencers - People who influence others on social media.
Politicians - Someone whose job it is to be involved in running a country. Politicians try to persuade people they have the best ideas to run the country.
Vain - Thinking very highly of yourself or your appearance.