Snapchat has again come under fire for its face-altering filters, this time it’s not about a terrifying taco face but accusations of “whitewashing”. Snapchatters have taken to Twitter to point the flower crown filter and the “beautifying” filter both appear to lighten the user’s skin.
Some users have pointed out the ‘beautifying’ filter also slims a person’s nose and chin, as well as brightening their eyes.
(first reaction to new snapchat filter from me and friend)
“whitewash much????” pic.twitter.com/bSK2yQFqP3— panda (@pandaprince_ss) March 9, 2016
Why did Snapchat whitewash me pic.twitter.com/UuLK9toNoy
— reckless behaviour (@neesh_chal) April 29, 2016
Snapchat, I am very disturbed by the fact that your “beautification” filters make my skin lighter, and my nose and jaw smaller. Just saying.
— Allegra Clark (@SimplyAllegra) May 9, 2016
@Snapchat hello yes can u stop 1) whitewashing my skin 2) slimming my face and 3) making my eyes bigger w your filters thx
— Stephanie Li (@stephliili) April 28, 2016
Lol so they try put flowers on top of the face to distract from the fact that it’s a skin lightening feature
?? Snapchat you’re not slick
— Dan Soff [JOKUZA] (@Swagadore) May 8, 2016
Was already upset @ snapchat for most it’s filters/lenses being whitewashing and how there’s that one that just subtly shrinks your nose
— A.J. Chaudhry (@SassyRaptor) April 21, 2016
Yo. If SnapChat makes these whitewash filters any lighter I’m going to disappear.
— Terr Cacilia (@TerrCacilia) May 16, 2016
This isn’t the first time Snapchat has come under fire for racially insensitive filters. To celebrate 4/20 or National Weed Day, the platform was accused of digital blackface when a Bob Marley filter superimposed the skin colour and facial features of the Jamaican artist on the Snapchat users-with added Rastafarian hat and dreadlocks.
