When Adults Criticize Beauty Filters While Using Them Themselves: The Hypocrisy That Youth & Teens Notice
- The White Hatter
- 2 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Recently, we tuned into a livestream presentation that focused on the relationship between technology and body image, particularly the concern about “beauty filters” and how they may influence how youth and teens, especially girls, perceive themselves.
The presenter made several thoughtful and well reasoned points. They spoke about how digital filters can reshape facial features, smooth skin, brighten eyes, and subtly alter proportions in ways that create an unrealistic image of what a person actually looks like. They also highlighted an important concern that many parents, educators, and researchers share. When young people repeatedly see these altered images online, it can gradually shift their expectations of what “normal” or “beautiful” should look like. (1)(2)(3)
However, something interesting happened while we were watching. A few times during the presentation, we noticed the presenter’s face appeared unusually smooth and slightly altered in a way that looked very similar to the effects created by a beauty filter. After paying closer attention, it became clear that the presenter was using the built-in appearance enhancement feature of the streaming platform they were broadcasting on.
Many people may not realize that platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams include real-time appearance filters. These tools can automatically smooth skin, reduce visible blemishes, soften wrinkles, and adjust lighting so that someone appears more polished on camera. In other words, while discussing the risks of beauty filters, the presenter was also using one, and the irony was hard to ignore.
One thing we hear consistently from youth and teens during our presentations is that they pay close attention to the gap between what adults say and what adults do.
Youth and teens are often told that beauty filters are harmful, unrealistic, or damaging to self-esteem. They are encouraged not to rely on them and to embrace authenticity instead. Yet, at the same time, youth and teens see adults using these same tools when:
They see influencers using them.
They see celebrities using them.
They see teachers using them.
They see parents using them.
They see media personalities using them.
When youth and teens observe this disconnect, the message they receive is not always the one adults intend. Instead of hearing “these tools can create unrealistic expectations,” what many teens interpret is something closer to, “These tools are bad, but everyone still uses them.” For a generation that has grown up surrounded by digital media, this kind of inconsistency stands out immediately.
While the technology may feel new, the desire to enhance appearance is not. For decades people have used makeup, lighting, photography techniques, and post-production editing to improve how they appear in photos or on camera. Magazine covers have been retouched, and advertising images have been altered. Professional photography has long relied on techniques designed to present people in their most flattering light. What has changed is the accessibility and immediacy of these tools.
In the past, image manipulation often required professional software and expertise. Today, any youth or teen with a smartphone can apply dozens of real-time filters with a single tap. Some apps can:
smooth skin automatically
reshape facial structure
enlarge eyes
narrow noses
change lip size
adjust jawlines
add digital makeup
alter lighting and skin tone
These changes can happen instantly while recording a video, taking a selfie, or live streaming. The result is a version of reality that can look natural enough that many viewers may not realize it has been altered.
As mentioned earlier in this article, researchers studying body image have increasingly explored how constant exposure to digitally altered images can affect how youth and teens see themselves. Some of this research suggest that frequent exposure to idealized or filtered images may contribute to:
body dissatisfaction
appearance comparison
pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards
anxiety around posting unfiltered photos
For youth and teens who are already navigating identity development, peer approval, and social comparison, these pressures can become amplified online.
This does not mean every youth or teen who uses filters will develop body image concerns. Many young people understand that filters are simply creative tools. However, repeated exposure to heavily altered images can still shape expectations in subtle ways.
The moment we experienced while watching that livestream presentation highlights an important reminder for adults. Young people learn as much from observing behaviour as they do from listening to advice, remember:
If parents or caregivers strongly criticize filters but use them constantly themselves, teens will notice.
If adults speak about authenticity but only post heavily edited photos online, teens will notice.
If educators talk about unrealistic beauty standards while simultaneously using appearance filters during video calls, students will notice.
None of this means adults must avoid every technology tool. The issue is not perfection, the issue is consistency and transparency. Parents, caregivers, and educators can model healthy digital behaviour by being open about how these tools work. For example, a parent or caregiver might say, “Sometimes I use the appearance smoothing tool on video calls because the lighting in my office isn’t great. But it’s important to remember that it changes how people actually look.” That kind of honesty does two things:
1/ It acknowledges the reality that these tools exist and are widely used.
2/ It reinforces the idea that digital images are often curated versions of reality.
One of the most valuable skills parents, caregivers, and educators can help youth develop is the ability to recognize when media is being manipulated. This skill becomes increasingly important as technology continues to evolve, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence (4). Today’s filters can adjust lighting and skin texture, but artificial intelligence can be used to generate entirely new versions of a person’s appearance. Helping youth understand that many images online are carefully constructed helps them maintain perspective when comparing themselves to others.
The experience of watching a presenter criticize beauty filters while using one themselves was not necessarily an example of hypocrisy. In many cases, people may not even realize they have these features enabled. However, it did highlight something important, if adults want to help youth and teens develop healthy relationships with technology, we need to model the behaviour we encourage. Youth and teens are incredibly perceptive when it comes to adult behaviour, and they can quickly recognize when the message does not match the example.
The real opportunity for parents, caregivers, and educators, lies in helping young people understand how these tools shape perception, how media can be manipulated, and how to maintain confidence in a world filled with curated images. That conversation begins not with lectures, but with leading by example.
When it comes to guiding youth and teens through the onlife world, the most powerful lesson parents, caregivers, and educators can offer is simple, walk the walk and talk the talk!
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
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