Filtered Faces, Faded Trust: The Hidden Cost of Image Filters in Online Dating

This paper explored the effect of image filters on first impressions in online dating. In Study 1, 114 participants judged the attractiveness or trustworthiness of male dating profiles with no filter, a mild filter, and an extreme image filter. Profiles with no filter were seen as more trustworthy than those with mild filters, and mild filters were more trustworthy than those with extreme filters. However, filters had comparatively little impact on perceived attractiveness. Moreover, perceptions of trustworthiness and attractiveness were not associated for images with extreme filters, suggesting excessive filtering might disrupt the halo effect in dating app contexts. In Study 2, participants rated male (n = 137) and female profiles (n = 106), which consisted of filtered and unfiltered images, on perceived trustworthiness; half of the participants were informed of the filters. Filtered images were perceived as less trustworthy than unfiltered images for both male and female profiles, especially when participants were informed about the filters.