Jana Hocking says using filters on dating apps has been a "disaster". Photo / Instagram/Jana Hocking
Jana Hocking says using filters on dating apps has been a "disaster". Photo / Instagram/Jana Hocking
Let's face it, who hasn't felt insecure about your dating profile photos?
As any singleton will know, it's a vulnerable feeling to upload your photos on a dating app and hit publish – just ask news.com.au's resident dating expert Jana Hocking.
During this week's episode she admitted to a common dating app habit: Filtering her photos before uploading them online.
"So I have to admit that I have used a filter before on my dating profile pictures and I've definitely been on dates with others who have," she revealed on this week's episode of news.com.au podcast Kinda Sorta Dating.
But while adding a cheeky filter on your best selfie might seem like a harmless confidence boost, one body confidence expert warns it is doing more harm than good.
These "before and after" photos of Taryn Brumfitt went viral and kickstarted her work as a body positivity advocate. Photo / Supplied
"I think there's almost a feeling of like you're luring somebody into false pretences, so why would we do that?" she said.
"It doesn't make you feel very confident going on a date when you rock up and you don't look as smooth or as young or whatever you've changed on your filter. That doesn't feel good."
Hocking revealed that filters had often caused her extra anguish when meeting up with someone on a dating app for the first time.
"I actually think that filters set you up for more disaster," she said.
"By the time you go to the date you're like, 'Oh god, they're expecting someone else, they're expecting someone with eyes so much bigger, teeth that are much whiter and boobs that are bigger' and it's actually in the long term going to make you more nervous about meeting them in real life."
Brumfitt said using filters on dating app photos could leave you feeling "very paranoid" when you arrive on a date.
"The very last thing you want walking up to a date is oh god, is he noticed that I look different?" she said. "I think it's a waste of time, it's unnecessary."
Instead, she advised people to share a mixture of photos showing themselves glammed up and dressed down.
"When I was online dating, I made sure that on my Bumble profile I had a selection of images that had me at my best and at my normal, so, glammed-up-looking smoking, and then in no makeup and frizzy hair in overalls," she said.
"I wanted any of my potential dates to know that I wear many hats and many faces and that I'm confident stripped back to nothing."
