Stop photoshop of models – Miriam

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago wants an end to posters, billboards and other print advertisements showing photo-shopped images of models and celebrities.

Apart from being unrealistic, Santiago said these altered images serve as bad examples, especially for the youth who look up to public personalities as role models.

“It is a common practice in advertising that advertisers alter images used in print and electronic media to materially change the physical characteristics of models’ faces and bodies, often altering the models’ size, proportions, shape and skin color, removing signs of aging and making other similar changes to models’ appearance,” Santiago said.

She added that such altered images could create distorted and unrealistic expectations and understanding of the appropriate weight and healthy body image.

Santiago noted that based on studies conducted in the past, exposure to these images is linked with emotional, mental and physical health issues.

“The dissemination of unrealistic body standards has been linked to eating disorders among men and women of varying age groups, but it has a particularly destructive health effect on children and teenagers,” she said.

The senator also argued that the use of these altered images, especially for the advertisement of beauty products and cosmetic procedures, is “clear deception on the part of advertisers.”

Under Senate Bill 2657, which Santiago filed recently, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) should submit a report to Congress explaining its strategy to reduce the use of altered images in advertising and other media for the promotion of commercial products as well as its recommendations for an appropriate, risk-based regulatory framework with respect to such use.

The bill requires the DTI to hold consultations with external stakeholders and experts on the strategy and recommendations required to be included in its report.