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Our Filtered Reality

Writer's picture: Holly StachlerHolly Stachler

Updated: Aug 16, 2021

Over the past few years, photo filters have become a staple in the world of social media. People of all ages, in both personal and professional situations use filters to correct, enhance, and manipulate the photos they put out for the world to see. As a mother and an educator, I have reservations about the excessive use of filters I am seeing as a scroll through my social media accounts. Too often we see kids (and adults too for that matter) filtering their photos to the point of making themselves unrecognizable. In seeing this, we ask ourselves, "why." Adding deer antlers or Harry Caray glasses to our photos to be funny is one thing, but altering pictures of ourselves and our friends, resulting in a likeness that differs greatly from reality seems counterproductive to the purpose of sharing about ourselves at all; the very purpose of what these platforms are designed to let us do.


In the K-12 environment, it is important that those of us taking and sharing photos (especially on accounts designated for professional purposes) consider the optics of filtering the images we take. It is important as it relates to the self-images of those captured in our photos, and in respect to the transparency that is expected of us by the families we serve. Although effective K-12 communication practices should include the ability to control messaging and provide ownership of telling our story, they should also be centered on providing real-life, honest information and images.


It is important to provide opportunities for students and adults to learn about the digital citizenship concepts surrounding the capturing and sharing images. If your school or district would like to talk more about this topic and discuss how UpgradeED can help, please reach out.


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