We live in an environment where aesthetics and beauty standards are really high, and as a result, this has influenced many of our activities as human beings. Many of our productions are geared towards having an aesthetic appeal, such as seen in modern buildings, parks, and even commercial goods and services (Manovich, 2020).
In so many ways, this has influenced how we view our appearances as human beings at least at the superficial level. The need for human beings to enhance their appearance through make-up is a well-documented phenomenon that can be traced as far back as 6000 BC (Matthias, 2021). The use of make-up to enhance our appearances is so inherent in our values as human beings that in some cultures, teaching young female teenagers how to apply make-up is seen as a right of passage into adulthood (Gentina et al., 2012). In the modern world, with the emergence of technology, photo filters have opened up a world of possibilities that were previously impossible for us to achieve. With a tap of our phone screens, we can have access to a variety of options that enhance the appearance of our photos instantaneously.
Photo Filters and Likability on Dating Apps
A new study recently published by the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, studied how photo filters influenced our judgment of unfamiliar faces in dating apps (Olivera-La Rosa et al., 2024). Dating apps are exactly that, an app where one could potentially meet a date for different purposes that range from looking for serious long-lasting relationships to nothing more than casual sexual relationships. The study (Olivera-La Rosa et al., 2024) postulated that sociosexuality was a predictor of reactions to photos in apps i.e. they presume that an individual’s predisposition to casual sex predicted how they would react to photos in dating apps. Consequently, the researchers studied whether the difference in how open individuals were to casual sexual activity affected how they perceived the faces that have changed using photo filters. The study which was conducted online with a Colombian sample size, assessed whether the different types of photo filters on faces affected how trustworthy and likable they seemed on a dating app where individuals decide based on pictures.
Their findings were interesting, they found that individuals who were more open to casual sexual relationships tended to judge trustworthiness based on facial appearance more favorably, they had less positive reactions to unattractive faces, had more positive reactions to subtle photo filters and no filters but the reactions were not so great to faces with exaggerated photo filters. Additionally, they observed that subtle photo filters increased positive responses when compared to no filters while unattractive faces were seen as less trustworthy and less liked when compared to neutral and attractive faces.
What does it mean
The findings from the study above (Olivera-La Rosa et al., 2024) can help shape our decision-making on dating apps. No matter what our reservations are about photo filters, the science tells us that moderate use of photo filters can help improve our chances of likability and being judged as trustworthy in dating apps, which ultimately improves our chances of getting matched on dating apps. Conversely, exaggerated use of filters can have negative consequences, as it decreases our chances of getting matched. It’s up to us then to utilize this information to our advantage.
Conclusion
Photo filters have become part of our lives as part of our needs as human beings for aesthetics and likability. However, while we apply this knowledge to our dating lives, it is important to note that the study (Olivera-La Rosa et al., 2024) also came to a rather cautious conclusion. It argues that since an individual’s predisposition to casual sexual relationships shapes their judgment of whether a face looks trustworthy in a dating app, it means that such individuals also have a natural predisposition towards trust which may pose risks in online situations. What this means is that a trustworthy face on dating apps does not necessarily mean that such persons are trustworthy in reality, caution is therefore recommended.
References
Manovich, L. (2020). The aesthetic society: or how I edit my Instagram 1. In Data publics (pp. 192-212). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429196515-13/aesthetic-society-edit-instagram-1-lev-manovich
Gentina, E., Palan, K. M., & Fosse-Gomez, M.-H. (2012). The practice of using makeup: A consumption ritual of adolescent girls. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 11(2), 115–123. https://doi.org/10.1002/cb.387
Matthias, M. (2021, March 18). Why Did We Start Wearing Makeup? Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/why-did-we-start-wearing-makeup
Olivera-La Rosa, A., Chuquichambi, E. G., & Ingram, G. P. D. (2024). An experimental study on the role of sociosexuality in judgements of perceived trustworthiness in a mobile dating-like interface. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000423
FEEDBACK:
