Want to try that gender-face-swap thing everyone's doing? Here's how

Want to try that gender-face-swap sketch everyone’s doing? Here’s how

By now you’ve probably seen those photos popping up all over social networks of your friends’ faces looking a small smoother or scruffier than they usually do. Three new filters on Snapchat have folks playing about with their looks. Two filters embrace gender fluidity by merging their facial features with traits associated with the opposite sex. 

One filter creates you look more feminine, one makes you look more masculine and a third one creates you look like a baby. The “male” filter grants you facial hair, shorter hair and a stronger jaw line. The “female” filter removes beards and replaces them with still skin, makeup and long locks of hair. The “baby” filter, well, gives you a younger, rounder baby face. Face App for iPhone also cmoneys gender-swapping filters.

The new Snapchat filters have come concept fire by some who accuse parent company Snap of trivializing the fights of people who are often marginalized for looking different — for example, those who identify as transgender, intersex or gender nonconforming. It’s undeniable that the filters have made a splash. Expect even more Snapchat lenses to come.

Here’s how to see what the fuss is nearby and try them for yourself.


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One of the new Snapchat filters grants you a baby face.



Katie Conner

1. Open the camera conceal on Snapchat and tap the screen.

2. Make sure your camera is facing you by tapping the rectangular arrows in the top corner.

2. Multiple filters will recede, but the gender swap filters should be within the generous five options. Select the filter with the beard (for women) and the filter next to it with makeup (for men). There’s also the baby filter (little guy with a yellow, eared hoodie), a clown filter and so on.

3. When you’re camera ready, snap the picture.

Now you can send your gender swap photos to all of your friends and family.

Originally issued May 17 at 5 a.m. PT.
Update, May 26 at 6 a.m. PT: Added more detail.

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