Girlguides back proposed law to tackle 'warped beauty ideals' online by forcing influencers to label altered photos

The bill has already garnered support online
JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP via Getty Images
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Young Girlguiding representatives have backed a proposed new law that would force influencers and companies to declare the use of edits and appearance-altering filters on images shared on social media.

The Bill, set to be put before Parliament on September 15, has been drawn up by Conservative MP Dr Luke Evans, who is also a GP.

Dr Evans, a member of the Health and Social Care Committee, has said he was motivated by his experiences as an NHS doctor. The MP said that edited photos on social media appeared to be “fuelling a psychological well-being disaster” among young people by creating a “warped view” of beauty.

The proposed law was welcomed this week by the Girlguiding Advocate panel - a body made up of young members of the centuries-old charity aged 14 to 25.

A charity spokesperson said that "labelling airbrushing is one of a number of measures girls have said can make a difference to the appearance pressures they face".

The young women were motivated to back the proposals by the charity's own recent research, which suggested around half of girls and women aged between 11 and 21 regularly use apps or filters to alter the way they look in images they then post on social media.

Being bombarded with images of "idealised beauty" online has impacted young people's self esteem, according to reports 
PA

Speaking on behalf of the panel, one 16-year-old panel member, Amanda, told the Standard: “As our research published last week showed, appearance pressures through exposure to adverts and images portraying perfection are detrimentally affecting girls and young women’s confidence and changing their behaviour.

“We’re glad to see attention on how to tackle airbrushing and think clear labelling is one thing that would help remind young people that these images aren’t real.

"It would be one of several ways I believe could help tackle the appearance pressures girls face - alongside media representing a greater diversity of women; celebrating their achievements rather than just their appearance and by making sure children have the skills they need to critically engage with images in the media."

Dr Evans, who plans to hold talks with major social media companies over the issue, told the BBC: “We know how damaging this is, as you’re warping people’s perspective of reality, whether that’s slimming down for women or bulking up for men.”

The Bill has already received high-profile support.

Ulrika Jonsson told The Sun she believes her children are being drawn into “a false world of perfection” online. She said: “As a mother, I'm deeply worried.”

If the Bill passes later this month, it has the potential to be incorporated into existing legislation, or to be debated in the Commons.

Under current proposals, those breaking the new law would have to issue an apology and a correction, or face a fine.

Similar legislation already exists in France, where any image shared by an advertising or other company that has been digitally enhanced must feature a label of “edited photograph”. The penalty is a fine.

However, critics of the proposal have argued that even if the Bill became law, it would be unenforceable. Some tweaks are hard to identify, and it is not clear who would monitor millions of posts.

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