Sure, filters are fun to play around with, but what happens when the augmented reality (AR) crosses a line and becomes disturbing? Well, last week, Spark AR, the company responsible for many of Instagram's face filters, announced it would be removing "all effects associated with plastic surgery from the Instagram Effect Gallery." Its Facebook post also confirmed that approval on any new effects that could be considered plastic-surgery-like would be postponed. Spark AR has not released specifically which filters it is responsible for, or which ones would be removed—but this feels like a step in the right direction.
This shift means that the company will "remove policy-violating effects as they are identified." While there is no specific timeline for when the policy will be implemented, it will likely target user-generated face filters including, "Plastica," "Bad Botox," and a literal filter called "Fix Me," complete with sharpie surgical markings. (Seriously, who TF is creating this stuff?!)
However, other popular filters will still be permitted on the app, meaning y'all can still rock that cute filter that gives you puppy ears and a boopable snoot.
The banning of plastic surgery-like filters is the latest in changes out of Instagram. Last month, the platform restricted posts that promoted weight-loss products and cosmetic surgery. In some countries, IG is even testing removing the "like" function on posts.
At the start of Spark AR's Facebook post, the brand stated that they wanted its effects "to be a positive experience" and that its team would be "re-evaluating our existing policies as they relate to well-being." A social media company valuing its users' well-being? For fall? Sadly, it is groundbreaking.
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This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.
