A new law passed in the Nordic country will oblige the influencers a specifically tag photos they post to social media when they have been retouched somehow – even through filters – the shape, size or skin of the body being displayed.
In principle, the measure will mainly affect Instagram but it also mentions Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and Twitter. This, look fight unrealistic beauty standards that are disseminated on social networks.
A problem that has very harmful effects on users, especially the youngest, who see in the influencers a canon of beauty to aspire to. But, without considering that this beauty in many occasions it is false or it is modified thanks to filters and retouching.
How will the measure work?
For this reason, when the law comes into force, everything instagramer O tiktoker will be obliged to include standardized labels, designed by the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Family, which will warn that the images shown have some kind of manipulation.
For example, if in a photo there are enlarged lips, narrow waists or exaggerated muscles, this must be expressly indicated in the publication.
In principle, the regulations are clearly aimed at influencers. But, it will also affect anyone who posts images for advertising purposes; that is, anyone who receives any payment or benefit for them.
This includes well-known and famous people, who could be fined and, ultimately, could face jail time.
The Norwegian government hopes that the measure will make a useful and significant contribution to curbing the negative impact of this “misleading advertising”. Especially in children and young people.
They recognize that it will not be easy to control it, mainly because it is not always easy to know if a photo has been retouched. Even so, the new law is an interesting first step in the fight against the controversial beauty canons that are disseminated on the networks, which can become dangerous for the most influential.
“Body pressure is always there, often imperceptibly, and it is difficult to combat. The requirement that advertising that was retouched or manipulated in some way be marked is a measure against body pressure,” wrote the Ministry of Children, as reported by the site Vice.
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