Augmented reality (AR) filters, which provide a plethora of options to enhance our photos and videos with virtual effects, have revolutionized the way we present ourselves online in today's digital age. As users interact with these filters, they raise concerns about the validity of their digital representations and the effects of these upgrades on self-perception. To go deeper into this phenomenon, we will investigate the junction of authenticity, social comparison theory, and objectification theory in the context of AR filters.

Understanding Authenticity

Authenticity is at the heart of human expression and identity, including a variety of dimensions that influence our relationships with the environment. Consistency, conformity, and connection are pillars of authenticity that guide people in their search for real self-expression (Nicolotti and Maria Elena Magrin 2020).

Consistency entails matching exterior traits to interior values, such that our digital representations reflect our genuine selves (Hällgren & Björk 2022). When using AR filters, users may look for solutions that match their unique aesthetics and beliefs, ensuring a sense of continuity between their digital and real-world identities.

Conformity, on the other hand, requires striking a compromise between uniqueness and cultural norms (Levitan & Verhulst, 2015). While AR filters provide creative freedom, users can navigate cultural and societal expectations by choosing filters that reflect their individual identity while staying aware of larger cultural settings.

Connection provides another element to authenticity, emphasizing the deep relationships we form with our digital counterparts. Users can choose filters that inspire nostalgia, cultural heritage, or personal memories, creating a sense of connection to their past experiences or goals (Zimmermann, Wehler, & Kaspar 2022).

Navigating Digital Self-Esteem

According to social comparison theory, people evaluate their own abilities and characteristics by comparing them to those of others. In the context of AR filters, users can make upward or downward social comparisons, assessing their looks and attractiveness in relation to others.

Upward social comparisons can cause feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem, particularly when users believe they fall short of unreachable beauty standards imposed by filtered photos on social media (Park, Kim, & Park 2021). In contrast, downward social comparisons can boost self-esteem by exposing perceived defects in others' appearances.

AR filters can worsen these inclinations by allowing users to change their appearance to match perceived societal expectations, promoting artificial beauty standards and encouraging a culture of comparison and rivalry (Isakowitsch 2023).

Examining Digital Self-Objectification

Objectification theory suggests that individuals may internalize societal norms that objectify and commodify the human body, leading to self-objectification and body dissatisfaction (Mercurio & Landry 2008). In the context of AR filters, users may engage in digital self-objectification by enhancing their appearance to conform to idealized beauty standards.

These filters offer users the opportunity to modify their features, blur imperfections, and enhance their physical attributes, often leading to a distorted perception of self and increased body dissatisfaction (Silva & Steins 2023).

Moreover, the prevalence of filters that promote sexualized or exaggerated features may contribute to the objectification of both oneself and others, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and reinforcing unrealistic beauty ideals.

Embracing Authenticity: Cultivating Genuine Self-Expression

Amidst these complex dynamics, embracing authenticity becomes paramount in navigating the era of AR filters. By prioritizing consistency, conformity, and connection in their digital interactions, users can cultivate genuine self-expression, foster meaningful connections, and uphold ethical engagement in the digital realm.

Ultimately, authenticity empowers individuals to transcend the pressures of social comparison and objectification, guiding them towards self-acceptance, self-awareness, and genuine connection in an increasingly digitized world. As we navigate the complexities of AR filters and digital self-expression, let authenticity serve as our compass, guiding us towards a more genuine and fulfilling online experience.

Reference

Gerber, JP, Wheeler, L & Suls, J 2018, ‘Taking A Closer Look at Social Comparison Theory’, https://www.apa.org, viewed 1 April 2024, <https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-115>.

Hällgren, C & Björk, Å 2022, ‘Young people’s identities in digital worlds | Emerald Insight’, The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 49–61, viewed 1 April 2024, <https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJILT-06-2022-0135/full/html>.

Isakowitsch, C 2023, ‘How Augmented Reality Beauty Filters Can Affect Self-perception’, Communications in computer and information science (Print), Springer Science+Business Media, pp. 239–250, viewed 1 April 2024, <https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-26438-2_19>.

Levitan, LC & Verhulst, B 2015, ‘Conformity in Groups: The Effects of Others’ Views on Expressed Attitudes and Attitude Change’, Political Behavior, vol. 38, no. 2, Springer Science+Business Media, pp. 277–315, viewed 1 April 2024, <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11109-015-9312-x>.

Mercurio, AE & Landry, LJ 2008, ‘Self-objectification and Well-being: The Impact of Self-objectification on Women’s Overall Sense of Self-worth and Life Satisfaction’, Sex Roles, vol. 58, no. 7-8, Springer Science+Business Media, pp. 458–466, viewed 1 April 2024, <https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-007-9357-3>.

Nicolotti, M & Maria Elena Magrin 2020, ‘Authenticity: Psychological Perspectives and Operationalizations’, Springer eBooks, Springer Nature, pp. 1–7, viewed 1 April 2024, <https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-69909-7_104669-1>.

Park, J, Kim, B & Park, S 2021, ‘Understanding the Behavioral Consequences of Upward Social Comparison on Social Networking Sites: The Mediating Role of Emotions’, Sustainability (Basel), vol. 13, no. 11, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, pp. 5781–5781, viewed 1 April 2024, <https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/5781>.

Silva, RC & Steins, G 2023, ‘Social media and body dissatisfaction in young adults: An experimental investigation of the effects of different image content and influencing constructs’, Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 14, Frontiers Media, viewed 1 April 2024, <https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1037932/full>.

Computer game communities are a subject that's pretty dear to me. I first played an online game when I was in around grade 5 in primary school (approx. age 10). I've played pretty much every single type of online game from MMORPG's like Runescape (the awful free flash game that started it all) which eventually elevated to paying for a World of Warcraft subscription for several years. Whereas i've also been very invested in the culture of Counter-Strike, an extremely competetive first person shooter, as well as the more casual call of duty games. I've also dabbled in some Starcraft and Dota (as well as league of legends) however as soon as I recognised the amount of time needed to get good at such games I quickly gave up. 

I never really became truly invested in the community aspect of online gaming however until the point where I discovered World of Warcraft at age 14. It began with a 12 day trial CD in which I played through the first few levels not realising that most of the hundreds of characters around me were people. Upon discovering this I immediately told my friends. I still remember walking into Darnassus (the night-elf capital city for the uninitiated) and being assaulted with the rantings of the trade channel. People sold and bought items, found groups for quests and guilds to raid with, most of which went over my head at the time, but I knew i'd found something special. A few weeks later and I'd finally got into the swing of things, I could understand the lingo, the humour, and I was able to look and find groups for dungeons with confidence of what my role was within the group. Although the dungeons were very formulaic, they usually require one class, the tank, to take most of the damage that the enemy does, one healer, to keep everyone alive, and three main damage dealing classes that do most of the damage, it still promotes a huge amount of team work within a group of usually complete strangers. This quickly can create close friendships between people that normally would not interact through the sheer fact that a dungeon cannot be completed alone. 

I've grown up with these games and taken a lot of the benefits of being in these communities with me. Although I haven't been able to keep any of these online friendships together over this time, a lot of my offline friendships now rely quite heavily on online games. I currently play in a competitive team on the first person shooter game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with a few of my high school friends. We rarely see each other outside of the game, usually maybe about once a month, however the fact that to be on the team we have to at least play our league matches once a week and generally try to hop on every night to practice we have built a strong group bond. We each keep up with the competitive scene and keep an eye on the counter-strike subreddit in order to look for helpful strategies and tips to improve our teams standings in the online leader board and spend hours talking over and practicing these strategies in order to replicate them without mistake. We've formed such a strong friendship bond within this game that it becomes difficult to talk about anything else, even when we're out at a bar or a party with other friends. It's addictive to be involved in such an expanding and changing community, with the game being updated by the developers weekly to balance the many different guns and maps, which can sometimes drastically change the strategies that can be used within the game. 

One thing that is particularly interesting about Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the fact that the developers interact directly with the community through the subreddit for the game. Ideas are often posted to the subreddit and implemented to the game days later, with acknowledgement to the original poster of the idea. I think this is a vital part of why the game community is growing so quickly and it's a very exciting time to be a part of the community.