Meta disabled face filters in Texas and Illinois Wednesday and some social media users are not happy about it.
Gone are the days of Snapchat-style bunny ears and smoothed-out face filters on Instagram and Facebook for Texans. At least for now.
As of Wednesday, Meta, the parent company for Facebook and Instagram, has temporarily disabled augmented reality filters on the social platforms for Texas and Illinois due to facial recognition laws in the states. The decision follows a class-action lawsuit settled in Illinois restricting the use of biometric data.
Attorney General Ken Paxton also filed a lawsuit in February against Meta accusing the company of misusing its facial recognition technology. The lawsuit states companies like Meta can't use Texans' biometric information and keep it stored within their systems without their consent or knowledge beforehand.
Some Texans logging on to Instagram and Facebook Thursday were caught off guard by the changes and upset to learn it was not a glitch. Many took to social media to air their frustration with the ban. "Texas is a wild state," one user wrote on Twitter Wednesday. "First they banned books that speak the truth on slavery in America, then banned abortions, immigrants, and now Instagram filters. Yet no license is needed to carry a pistol. This joint seem like a spoof or parody."
everyone in texas opening up instagram after the beauty filters have been legally revoked pic.twitter.com/9J3J4ozaAm
"IG removing the catfish filters as hot girl summer approaches. May the realest baddies survive," wrote another Twitter user. Another posted, "No abortions or filters?!? Texas hates women fr."
Some vowed to swear off the platforms entirely now that they are unable to use filters. On Twitter, a user wrote, "If Instagram doesn't put their filters back I'll never use stories again idc." Another Twitter user stated, "Apparently texas banned filters so you guys will never catch a selfie from me ever again."
Others suggested that Texas leaders like Paxton have their priorities misplaced. "Texas would rather sue Facebook/IG over filters than protect women’s rights," wrote one social media user. "Texas can ban IG filters but can’t figure out a way to fix the teacher shortage because of how the state treats teachers. We love our priorities," another wrote.
a politician must’ve gotten catfished bad that they’re banning the use of instagram filters in the entire state of Texas. pic.twitter.com/53IBsknuHf
On the other hand, some welcomed the end of filtered photos because of their damage to self-image. "I hope the whole world bans IG filters like Texas did cause y’all really be hating your real faces and it’s weird," wrote a Twitter user.
However, Texans may not have to see the hashtag "no filter" over and over again for long. Meta announced it plans to give users the option to opt-in soon, stating "We are taking this step to prevent meritless and distracting litigation under laws in these two states based on a mischaracterization of how the features work."
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Ariana Garcia joined Chron in 2021. Previously, she was a community news and breaking news reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. She enjoys binge-watching anime and films makeup tutorials in her spare time.