We should stop filtering ourselves

Launched only 10 years ago on July 8, 2011, Snapchat has grown to over 46 million users worldwide. From middle schoolers to influencers, Snapchat is part of life now. And of course, anyone can see why. It provided an easy and effective way to communicate, while also stimulating the visual part of the brain. Photos can be sent at the click of a button, and there is limited accountability since they are deleted seconds after opening. While there is more than one problem with Snapchat’s methods in general, there is one in particular that often goes unnoticed: filters. Now, the term “filters” is used very loosely, since that is what everyone calls all the fun options on Snapchat’s photo setting. To be more specific, however, filters are technically only the frames and artwork that can be added to the snaps (hearts, color tint, etc.). What actually is the problem here is called “lenses.” Lenses are often just referred to as filters but are in fact very different. Lenses are augmented reality, changing your face shape, eyes, hair color, or adding ears and the like. Lenses may seem fun at first. They change your voice, make your mouth super big and…
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