The evidence was about as clear as it gets. In 2019, Meta conducted an internal review of Instagram's beauty filters, the ones that slim noses, smooth skin, and

 

The evidence was about as clear as it gets. In 2019, Meta conducted an internal review of Instagram's beauty filters, the ones that slim noses, smooth skin, and plump lips. Eighteen wellbeing experts weighed in. Every single one of them recommended removing the filters, warning of negative impacts on teen mental health and body image.

Mark Zuckerberg overruled them all. Testifying in a Los Angeles courtroom in February 2026, the Meta CEO called an outright ban on the filters "overbearing." Instead, he framed the decision as one of free expression, stating that he wants to "err on the side of giving people the ability to express themselves." A Swedish news outlet described the defense as "completely bizarre," noting that being able to fake a thinner nose and longer eyelashes is not freedom. Plaintiffs' attorneys had pressed Zuckerberg on internal debates about banning cosmetic surgery filters after experts warned of body dysmorphia risks.

The filters stayed. Today, they remain a swipe away for millions of teenage girls. And the trial continues.

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