Instagram displays ads in between the news feed and also in its Stories. It’s how the company makes its money. These ads are also targeted which means that these are ads that Instagram thinks you might like based on a number of factors. However recently it seems that quite a few are taking offense to Instagram’s ads for an app called Facetune.
For those unfamiliar, Facetune is an app that is designed to help people capture the “perfect” selfie. Like most photography apps, Facetune comes with filters and tools that help to remove skin imperfections. However it seems that the ad is targeting women under 25, and this is what some are finding offensive, possibly due to stereotypes or that it could encourage people to chase the “perfect” look.
A study conducted by the International Journal of Eating Disorders found correlation between teens who use social media to post manipulated photos of themselves, and having high scores when it comes to body-related and eating concerns. It was also recently suggested that due to apps that offer “beautifying” tools, there is an increase in younger people seeking out plastic surgery to make themselves look as good as their selfies.
According to AdNews, Instagram declined to comment on the report and the Facetune ads, claiming that they only approve of ads on its platform as long as it abides by their guidelines which was designed to protect its community.
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