(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's 9:58; I have a cold, and in exactly two minutes I have a work meeting. Despite feeling like the physical embodiment of a big toe, luckily I've never felt the need to be particularly preened for these colleague gatherings, until I digitally slump myself onto Google Meet and see a message: "Touch up your appearance?"

As a Gen Z growing up in the digital age of Instagram and influencers, I'm no stranger to photo editing software , but for some reason, this innocent enquiry from Google stopped me in my tracks. Yes, we live in a filtered online world, but when did it leak into my workday? And more importantly, should I have to touch up my appearance for a meeting?

(Image credit: Google)

While I'm partial to a bit of social media brainrot, I've been wise to steer clear of overly filtered influencers for my self-preservation.…