The use of filters on the photos of children that are posted on social networks, this practice is debated. Insight from a psychotherapist.
Since Instagram invaded our lives, some have become experts in photo editing. The social network offers a series of filters to retouch its images, but there are also other easily downloadable applications and tools to improve its shots. According to a recent Canadian study, almost 80% of young girls retouch their face or body before posting a photo of themselves on social networks. Influencers also wield the art of editing to perfection, sometimes the changes are so extreme that the personalities are barely recognizable.
What about parents? Are children spared these filters that are supposed to beautify? Apparently not. The debate rages between the pros and the anti. While childcare brands do not hesitate to smooth the features of a newborn, lighten his eyes to extol the merits of a mattress or a washing gel, parents who follow this practice are severely judged .
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It can be harmful if the child realizes it
An editor of the Scarry Mommy site, mother of two children under the age of 4, interviewed a psychotherapist. She herself admits to retouching the photos of her children and wonders if that makes her a monster. According to Zoë Bisbing, it all comes down to the reach and potential harm of the image, she says. For example, a big-budget brand that features edited baby photos has more impact than just your edited baby photo on your feed. Nevertheless, she believes that “it can be very harmful for a child if he realizes that his parent has changed the shape of his body or face. The latter sends the message non-verbally: ‘You are not presentable as you are; I need to change your appearance to show you to the world.”
She explains that similar risks arise when you alter your own appearance. If we erase our cellulite on Instagram, it teaches your child that our natural body is not good, is not acceptable by society. “But not all photo editing will reduce the self-esteem of your child, reassures Zoë Bisbing. Indeed, if the lighting is problematic and you want to adjust it, there is no problem, if you want to pass the family photo in black and white to make it more artistic, ditto .
In short, anyway, it’s up to you to do what seems right to you. And if your kids look better with the Clarendon or Lark filter, then no one will blame you.