Snapchat Forced to Remove 'Yellow Face' Filter
Snapchat touched on a few nerves recently as their Yellow Face filter exhibited a racist air. Netizens bashed one of the most popular social media platforms with the recent release of the abovementioned feature. In this 21st century where equality in culture, gender, and religion are widely recognized and emphasized, companies cannot afford to be insensitive in their services.
Like all other face morphing lenses, Yellow Face can showcase you in a totally different way. In this case, the app can give you squinty eyes and buckteeth - classic stereotypes of Asians. The company didn't expect the criticisms which flooded Twitter. Their defense is that there never was an intention to offend in the first place. The creation is based from the Japanese animé characters which they think will be popular to the audience too. The playful filter (or lens, as they call it), contributes to the entertaining aspect of the application.
This is not the first time that Snapchat caused ripples in the online community. A controversial Bob Marley filter that adds dreadlocks to your features and allows you to have the black complexion of the late reggae singer was also deemed insensitive. Snapchat was also forced to remove it earlier this year. The promulgation of the "digital blackface" feature was said to be demeaning - both to the musician's fans and to the wider African-American population. Again, Snapchat issued an apology stating that it is just a way for followers to show their appreciation to their idol. But as the case revealed, adding the legend's distinct features to your own doesn't seem to be an acceptable act, as a fan and as a virtual citizen. The outrage are similar in nature due to the fact that they appear to target, instead of promote, cultural respect and sensitivity. These instances emphasize that cultural relativism as a highly recognized value in this globalized world, is a necessity to the entertainment business.
