We’re all guilty of using filters on our photos sometimes — who doesn’t want to feel like a supermodel, even if just for a hot minute? — but if you’re using them on dating apps, here’s why you need to stop right now.
- It’s false advertising. It’s straight up a lie if you’re using lots of filters on your pics. I mean, sure, you might argue that you’re wearing makeup or have hair extensions in your pics, but there’s a difference. Using lots of filters that give you virtual plastic surgery is a much more dramatic and taboo thing to do.
- Imagine if it happened to you. You probably know all about the catfishing craze, when you meet up with someone in real life who isn’t what they appeared to be online. If you’ve ever experienced that, you’ll know how crappy it is. Why would you want to do that to someone else?
- It makes you seem insecure. Hey, we all have insecurities and they’re nothing to be ashamed of, but why make potential matches assume that you’ve got more issues than Vogue? They’re bound to think, “Damn, she lacks so much confidence, she had to OD on Photoshop.” Be proud of who you are and show them your worth!
- It makes real-life dates more stressful. When you’ve gone OTT with the filters, you know that it can make you feel even more stressed out about meeting your matches IRL. You might worry that the guy or woman won’t like how you look in person and it just gives rise to lots of fears that you don’t need. When you’re real, it’s so much easier to be chill, no drama!
- You can come across as silly. I know those cat and dog filters are super cute and fun to do, but when you’re using them on dating apps they can make it seem like you’re being a bit childish. Not that you should care too much about what others think, but it’s a good idea to try to be a little more serious about things if you’re looking for a real connection.
- You come across as trying too hard. It’s one thing to share your filtered pics with your friends on Snapchat, but it’s quite another to share them with strangers on a dating platform. It can seem like you’re spending hours trying to get the perfect shot. Ugh. This brings me to the next point…
- It seems you’ve got way too much time on your hands. Hey, we’re all leading busy lives and getting stuff done. Who has time to add filters to their selfies and make their dating app profile look perfect? If yours does seem too cutesy and perfect, it’s only a matter of time before it raises red flags.
- Filtered pics are the new blurry pics. Remember when people would upload blurry pics on their dating profiles? (Okay, some are still doing that!) You’d imagine telling the person, “Why post that if we can’t even see your face?” You’d think they were dodgy and clearly hiding something. But now, some filters actually warp your real looks or hide your faces from view, so it’s the same thing. Don’t do it.
- Self-acceptance is the new selfie. Enough with worrying so much about how we look or if we’ll impress potential matches. Let’s embrace who we are and not tinker with our natural, beautiful assets. Even if you don’t want to go completely natural in your pics, ask a bestie if your pics look like you before you upload them to your dating app, and only post them if she says they do. I promise you’ll feel so much better about putting your real self out there. When you make matches, you’ll feel even nicer because people are crushing on you for you, not a fake idea of what you are.
- It’s better to be disliked for who we are. No one wants to be rejected on dating apps, or anywhere else for that matter, but it’s still better to get swiped left for who we really are instead of being liked for who we’re clearly not. That’s never going to last. Even if you do manage to let people think that those adjusted and edited pics are your real face, you’ll know the truth and it’ll make you feel like crap.
