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How much filter is too much filter for kids and teens posting selfies on social media?

That is the question state attorneys general across the country are grappling with following a landmark settlement with Meta this summer. As part of the agreement, the social media giant agreed to block some digital beauty filters for minors — specifically those mimicking extreme transformations like cosmetic procedures or heavy makeup.

Now, the burden falls on state officials to tell Meta where to draw the line. But defining where harmless fun ends and harmful manipulation begins is far from straightforward.

Impact on youth body image

For teenagers navigating the digital landscape, the pressure of online perfection is a daily reality. Much of that pressure has been driven by online beauty trends like "Instagram face." Coined in 2019 by The New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino , the phrase refers to a look characterized by a small button nose, high cheekbones and pouty lips.…