Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte calls for social media filters ban

Former Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte has called for a nationwide ban on social media filters in a bid to protect her children.

Former Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte has called for a ban on social media filters in Australia in a bid to protect kids.

The Rouge Traders frontwoman, 46, is no stranger to being in the spotlight and the body image issues that come with it.

But the mother of two wants to protect her children, claiming the ability to “distort” your image on social media was “pretty confronting”.

Bassingthwaighte is calling for more awareness on the use of filters, which can be used on social media apps like TikTok and Instagram to distort images online.

She worries that the trend was harmful to children’s self-esteem.

“I think if you can start removing freckles or distorting your body, waist, anything like that it’s kind of making kids feel like they aren’t good enough as they are and looking at these unrealistic images does not help with self-image at all,” she told PerthNow.

“It’s hard enough as an adult to come to terms with … you do a photo shoot and you look glamorous and then you see yourself in real pictures and you think, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t look like that’.

“I’m an adult so I can process that but I think it’s much more challenging as a kid to kind of mentally make that adjustment.”

The Rouge Traders front woman has called for a ban on filters to protect her children. Picture: Instagram.

Bassingthwaighte has two children with husband Cameron McGlinchey – Harper, 11, and Hendrix, seven.

She has permitted her eldest to have a private social media account, after discussing the potential images social media can have on your mental health.

Natalie Bassingthwaighte is calling for a ban of social media filters. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

She said it’s a different world we live in now, and that parents should start the conversation with their children about the effects social apps can have on their body image.

“For me, it’s important to start the conversation … chats with our children about what different social media can do for our mental health,” she said.

The actress has partnered with Dove on it’s ‘Reverse Selfie’ campaign to raise awareness on the impacts of editing on social media.

Originally published as Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte calls for social media filters ban