Meta agrees to restrict extreme beauty filters for minors

Following a landmark settlement with 47 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and three territories, Meta has agreed to block certain digital beauty filters for minors. The restrictions specifically target filters that mimic extreme transformations, such as those simulating heavy makeup or cosmetic surgical procedures.

State attorneys general are now tasked with determining the boundaries between harmless digital effects and harmful manipulations. The debate centers on the impact of trends like ‘Instagram face’—characterized by specific facial features like high cheekbones and small noses—on youth body image. Activists have noted that the use of such filters can contribute to eating disorders and distorted self-perception among teenagers.