![]() ‘Therefore, the younger TikTok users who are less accustomed to seeing their own asymmetry may display what appear to be quite extreme reactions to the inverted filter.’ We know it’s fake, but we still feel inadequate. ‘One major problem we have is that research has shown even when we know images are altered, touched-up and made to be more “perfect”, these emotional reactions still occur. ‘Although faces are not perfectly symmetrical, we become accustomed to a certain asymmetry, so to see the opposite view is jarring for our minds to process – it is us, but someone not us at the same time.’ ‘In a similar way, the TikTok inverted filter can feel very disconcerting as it’s not a perspective we see usually. It’s simply not what we’re used to seeing reflected back at us. ‘When our facial appearance changes quickly, perhaps after a bout of illness or even after repeated bad nights’ sleep for example, it can often trigger feelings of low mood and dissatisfaction. ‘We’re so used to seeing our faces in the mirror – we know every crease and crevasse and the familiarity offers some comfort,’ she tells Mail+. The shock and upset being caused by the inverted filter is understandable, says chartered psychologist Dr Meg Arroll. ‘Identical twins are born exactly the same and then through life they start changing because of the environmental influences.’ ‘The most beautiful one is the asymmetrical one,’ says Dr Tiryaki.Įveryone’s faces are asymmetrical, he notes, a result of sleeping on a certain side, or chewing on one side of our jaw. When he works with patients he uses a programme that shows them three images – their symmetrical face, mirroring the left side, mirroring the right side and their real face as it is. ‘The eye looks for difference, so if someone is perfectly symmetrical, the eye sees it as boring – there’s nothing interesting there.’ However, doctors have a message for the young women feeling distraught at their ‘wonky’ faces – perfect facial symmetry not only doesn’t exist, but asymmetry is what makes our faces interesting and beautiful.ĭr Tunc Tiryaki, consultant plastic surgeon at London’s Cadogan Clinic, tells Mail+: ‘There is a fine balance where slight asymmetry creates a much more attractive face. Teenager has filmed herself with tears on her cheeks, with the caption: ‘Pretty privilege is being able to do this trend without bursting into tears.’ User posted: ‘Just found out my head is crooked.’ Another called said: ‘So I’m the only one who looks hideous with this filter.’ There is even a fear that the filter – which has been mentioned on 347million posts – is dramatically fuelling mental health problems.
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