Filters on Instagram and Facebook                         

We did some research into filters and how people use and react to them. We targeted Facebook and Instagram because we knew they were the sites to use most filters other than Snapchat of course. We noticed that the majority of people do have filters on their profile pictures and other photos on their timeline. We had many questions about this so we decided to ask class mates because then we got straight fast answers.
We also answered the questions ourselves.

While we were researching we discussed some of our own stories about filters and our experiences with them. In our conversation we were talking about how people react to them and how they react differently to our pictures without filters. I have noticed that my previous profile picture on Facebook, which had a filter, got 116 likes on it then my current one which was a natural photo had 68 likes. This is a 48 difference between the photos. Why you ask, well it’s a simple answer really. This is because of filters. I will admit I looked really nice, but in my current one I am being silly and more me instead of looking dolled up and pretty. When I looked through my pictures on Instagram I noticed that the pictures I had put up with filters got more likes then the other ones without filters. It's funny how people like the nice looking pictures more, isn't it? I guess that sometimes you can tell who your real friends are just through the amount of likes and comments you get without putting filters on a simple picture which is nice but sometimes you have to live up to social media's expectation if you want to break your record on the amount of likes you have.

People are so judgmental about what we post and whether the pictures we post are good quality, it affects what we do post and if we use filters. We are so revolved around getting more likes and who liked it that we forget the whole purpose we actually posted the picture. To share it with our family and friends. Not with these 'friends' who we've never actually met apart from those 'really good conversations' about 'we haven't met yet but we're great friends'. But with our actual friends that we went out and made without the filtered profiles.

So many of us revolve our social media lives around having the most followers or making the most 'friends'. All for one thing. Getting the most likes. Why don’t we stop and think about what we are posting and who is seeing it. Why don’t we stop and let our followers know who we truly are under all those filters. Why don’t we go out and make actual friends and get away from our screens. Why don’t we go out and wave it in everybody's faces that we aren't actually those stereotypical people whose lives are on their phones. Why don’t we go out and do more than pose in front of a camera. Go live life to the fullest and have a great life and quit saying that you aren't good enough without filters.


By Dani Ferens and Anja Porthose-Tapiki