After Meta’s announcement last summer, there has been a lot of talk about AR filters and, in particular, beauty filters on Instagram. Today, January 14, 2025, is the date chosen by Meta to close the platform Meta Sparkwhich gave developers and digital creatives the opportunity to create and distribute AR (Augmented Reality) effects.
Filters and effects on social media have radically changed the use and enjoyment of content on many platforms. Filters have been used over the years in a creative, interactive, playful and aesthetic way and have differentiated themselves into numerous types, from beauty filters able to remove imperfections, make the skin smooth, change the color of the eyes, apply make-up and carry out other more or less flashy aesthetic changes, to those more interactive e dynamic which are activated on the occasion of specific user movements, passing through filters that transform the user and stylize him like a comic, a cartoon, a superhero and so on. In short, we have learned to see more and more and the number of effects has grown over the years to offer more and more possibilities to users.
Creativity aside, from another point of view, the use of beauty filters on a large scale, on Instagram but also on many other social networks, may have had a negative impact on the mental health of users of various social networks and on the perception of one’s body and one’s aesthetic appearance, making certain standards of beauty that aim for perfection increasingly distant from everyday reality. In this regard, it is very interestingin-depth Demographics by Adnkronoswhich deals with the many aspects of beauty filters and who also talks about how these filters and effects may have contributed to a phenomenon called digital body dysmorphia, citing some studies on the matter.
So quick to use and apply directly in the social network interface, without having to go through other apps before uploading photos and videos, there is no doubt that the filters and effects integrated into the apps have become very popular and have contributed to the flourishing of a thriving community of digital developers and creatives. These developers will now have to do without Meta’s user base and app visibility but will be able to continue to distribute these effects on other platforms. We remember that Meta had made one available FAQ page regarding operational details.
Meta has specified that content already created with these filters will not be affected after the closure of the Meta Spark platform. Obviously, it will no longer be possible to use these third-party filters within the Instagram (or Facebook) app as only the integrated ones, developed by Meta itself, will be available.
In the official press releaseMeta explained that he made this decision to give prioritize products that the company believes will best meet the future needs of consumers and business customers. Along with Meta Spark, the other Meta Spark products, namely Meta Spark Studio, Meta Spark Hub and Meta Spark Player, will no longer be accessible.
News
Source: www.iphoneitalia.com
