Thursday, August 11, 2016

Snapchat Takes Down Another Offensive Selfie Filter

Venice-based Snapchat has taken down a new so-called "yellowface" selfie-filter from its service, which had allowed users to superimpose squinted eyes and buck teeth on their images. The filter was removed after widespread complaint from Asian users over the filter, which some users on Twitter called the "most overtly racist filter ever". The filter is the second, racial mis-step by Snapchat in the selfie filter area: the company also faced widespread complaints when it released a "Bob Marley" filter in April which users compared to blackface. Snapchat had said the filter was inspired by anime, and was meant to be "playful".