The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News
The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News
The student news site of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California.

Scot Scoop News

Cartoon: Your other face

Aahna Chauhan, Staff Writer • June 1, 2026
Beauty filters on social media are becoming a quiet but increasingly powerful force in shaping how people perceive themselves. According to The National Desk, a City University of London study found that 90% of young women reported using filters, and 61% said doing so made them feel worse about how they look in real life. This is a representation of how filters can lead to dysmorphia. Additionally, according to Psychology Today, the more time people spend editing their appearance, the greater the damage to their self-esteem, with researchers finding that heavy filter use can even lead to body dysmorphic disorder. Furthermore, according to the National Institutes of Health, repeated exposure to filtered images is fueling a rise in “Snapchat dysmorphia” — where people seek cosmetic surgery to resemble their filtered selves. Social media platforms need to take responsibility for the identity erosion their tools quietly encourage. (Aahna Chauhan)
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About the Contributor
Aahna Chauhan
Aahna Chauhan, Staff Writer
Aahna Chauhan (class of 2028) is a sophomore at Carlmont High School writing for Scot Scoop. She loves music, drawing, and astronomy. You can find her practicing badminton, at her martial arts dojo, or hanging out with friends.