University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Advertising Department Chair and Associate Professor Robyn Goodman was quoted in “Meta’s Temporary Filter Ban in Two States Raises Important Question: What are Face-Altering App Features Doing to Our Perception of Beauty?” published in yahoo!life on May 24. Meta is the parent company of Facebook and Instagram.

The article focuses on Meta’s disabling of Instagram face-augmenting filters in Texas and Illinois on May 11, after lawsuits filed in each state. A Meta spokesperson maintained that the filters, frequently used on Instagram, never infringed upon facial recognition technology laws in those two states, but disabled the filters to “prevent meritless and distracting litigation.”

Some experts claim the filters can aid in the development of negative self-image issues in a way that mirrors previous societal trends related to heightened beauty standards.

According to Goodman, “It’s very similar to a lot of the research that was done in the ’80s and ’90s, looking at slender women, particularly the heroin chic ideal in media, and the negative impacts that were happening with that, it works the same. These are idealized versions of people. Unfortunately, we oftentimes can’t figure out what’s real and what’s unreal, so we begin to think that’s the way everyone looks.”

Appearance alteration has been around for centuries, but Goodman says filters are an entirely different ball game.

“What you can do with a computer is much more than what you can do with makeup. You can actually increase the size of someone’s eyes, change their lips, the nose and you can’t do that with makeup,” she said.

Goodman champions increased education surrounding media and the ways it can be manipulated so users are better able to distinguish between what is real and fake.

Posted: May 25, 2022
Category: College News
Tagged as: Robyn Goodman