Instagram bans filters that give users ‘fillers’ and ‘facelifts’

INSTAGRAM has removed plastic surgery filters in a bid to improve the mental health of its users.

Augmented reality filters that make users look like they have had plastic surgery will be banned, according to the social media giant.

The Facebook-owned app released a tool in August that allowed users to create and share their own effects, which are superimposed on to photos and videos.

But the move resulted in “Instagrammers” being able to use filters, such as the popular Plastica, that depicted extreme plastic surgery.

Some effects include facelifts, fillers and lip injections.

A Facebook spokesman said: “We’re re-evaluating our policies – we want filters to be a positive experience.”

They added that while they were reevaluating, they would “remove all effects from the gallery associated with plastic surgery; stop further approval of new effects like this; and remove current effects if they’re reported”.

Senior executives told MPS in May that the firm would pay closer attention to appearance-changing filters over concerns about the impact they may have on body image.

“I think that body image is a really important topic … and this is something that we are taking really seriously,” Vishal Shah, head of product at Instagram, told the digital, culture, media and sport committee.

The social network has been under increased scrutiny following a number of self-harm incidents.

In November 2017, 14-year-old Molly Russell took her own life after viewing disturbing material on the app.