Instagram influencers and celebrities in Norway should declare if they have retouched their pictures, especially when it involves advertising. According to a new law that the Scandinavian country is about to implement, the influencers could pay a fine or end up in jail if they don't carry a disclaimer if they have their altered their pictures.

The country's legislators passed the law as a debate rages in the country on "kroppspress" (meaning "body pressure") or impossible beauty standards. One of the reasons cited by the government for passing the law was the Ministry of Children and Family's study that "body pressure" led to low self-esteem among young people.

The law is not limited to Instagram. Posts on other social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and Snapchat are covered under the law.

Should other countries follow similar rules? A report by the UK's Royal Society for Public Health in 2017 said that Instagram had the worst effect on young people's mental health. Earlier this year, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK advised influencers against using filters to social media adverts.

This followed a UK-based makeup artist Sasha Louise Pallari starting a viral #FilterDrop campaign encouraging women to post their 'unfiltered' faces. The movement became a rage with many women posting their natural faces and the ASA stepped in with new guidelines for advertisers. [https://graziadaily.co.uk/beauty-hair/makeup/sasha-louise-pallari-filter-drop/]

Speaking to the BBC, Em Clarkson, an influencer in England has said that her country should pass a similar law. [https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-57721080]

In fact, a Bill was introduced last year in the British parliament that requires advertisers, broadcasters and publishers to display a logo "in cases where an image of a human body or body part has been digitally altered in its proportions; and for connected purposes." But the bill couldn't be passed. [https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2778]

With Norway showing the way, more countries, including England, could look at similar laws.

Read more:

What the law says:
https://nypost.com/2021/07/06/instagram-law-will-jail-influencers-for-secretly-editing-appearance/

Celebs divided on the new law:
https://www.joe.co.uk/news/influencers-divided-on-norways-new-law-on-photo-editing-279352

'#FilterDrop campaign changed the rules around'
https://www.stylist.co.uk/beauty/instagram-beauty-filters-filterdrop-campaign-sasha-pallari/481160

Influencers' Welcome honesty' or a 'shortcut'?:
https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-57721080

Pic courtesy: Instagram