Snapchat filters that let users add special effects to their "snaps" in honor of International Women's Day have created a furor for the messaging app company that just went public with a bang.
Critics on watchful Internet tech sites and over on social media said some of the effects from the Snapchat filters added to users' pics were, at best, insensitive.
The filters recognized artist Frida Kahlo, civil rights activist Rosa Parks and scientist Marie Curie and created various effects associated with them when the user raised their eyebrow or opened their mouth, reported USA Today.
In the Rosa Parks filter, a word bubble pops up with her quote: "You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right," when the user raised her eyebrows. In the Marie Curie filter, chemicals in a lab exploded when the user's mouth opened.
"Marie Curie's filter is a complete mess," said Louise Matsakis and Kerry Flynn on Mashable. "… For one thing, the lens gives users full eye makeup, including what look like fake eyelashes. Apparently, being a female scientist is all about...looking good?"
"The lens also shows chemicals combusting — which is a bit of a shame, given that Curie died due to long-term exposure to radiation. In fact, there's a bitter irony in the fact that Snapchat chose to adorn their version of Marie Curie with long fake eyelashes, since radiation often causes hair loss."
Derrick Rossignol of Engadget complained that Snapchat used Park's hat, hair, and glasses to turn her "likeness into a costume."
"Similarly, the Frida Kahlo filter adds her historically accurate hairstyle and thick eyebrows, but reducing her to a few facial characteristics comes off as pretty clueless and insensitive." Rossignol added.
Some went on social media to protest.
Some on social media, though, said they were happy with the filters.
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