As ad agencies decide to stop working with influencers who alter their photos, we asked our community's opinions on the topic.
Photo editing is nothing new in the advertising industry. Technological and digital innovations in recent years have opened the door to a range of social media filters and editing apps for the masses - and notably, for influencers - to use.
As editing becomes more popular and less conspicuous, many a debate has been had around the question of whether or not filters are harmful. More recently, further debate has been fuelled by a large ad agency’s decision to ban collaborations with influencers who alter their body and face.
As the debate wages on, we asked for and listened to our community's opinions on the matter.
Photo editing can be very misleading, have negative effects on viewers’ self esteem, and sets unrealistic pressure on others to obtain what they see in pictures.
Many studies have shown a correlation between unrealistic beauty standards and declining mental health,especially among younger generations. Some suggest that influencers should disclose whether or not their pictures have been altered, in order to maintain transparency with viewers.
Ad agencies have the power to portray their own narrative, choosing and changing what they want shown and who they want creating their content. This gives them the power to change the current landscape and work towards setting less dangerous advertising precedents in the future.
As many creatives are moving towards a renewed openness regarding photo editing, a recurring argument is that it should be minimised in all areas of the media beyond social platforms, such as on TV adverts, billboard campaigns, and magazine covers.
How do you feel about this topic? Let us know your thoughts in the post comments. For more insights and industry discussion, join our mailing list and follow us on Instagram.
Comments