Filters and fillers: Belgian adolescents’ filter use on social media and the acceptance of cosmetic surgery

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examined whether adolescents’ use of (a) body and (b) face filters was related to acceptance of cosmetic surgery (ACS) (i.e. intrapersonal and social acceptance, and intention). Attention was paid to possible differences according to adolescents’ (1) sex, (2) self-esteem, and (3) pubertal timing. A cross-sectional online survey among 333 Flemish adolescents (Mage = 16.06, SD = 1.45) with 71.2% girls was used to test the hypothesized model via structural equation modeling. The use of face filters was positively linked to social motivations of ACS and consideration of cosmetic surgery. Body filter use was only linked to social motivations of ACS. Only girls showed a link between body filter use and social ACS. The findings underline the role of filter use in adolescents’ ACS.