Facetune blindness: Why Nonku Williams’ holiday snaps have Mzansi asking, ‘Can’t she see it?’
Nonku Williams' family getaway photos went viral, but it was the editing, not the elephants, that got Mzansi talking. We unpack 'Facetune Blindness' and why it keeps surfacing.
Nonku Williams, a star from the reality show Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD), recently shared holiday photos that sparked conversation on social media. While the snaps appeared to be wholesome content, many questioned the heavily edited appearance of the star. Fans noticed her skin looked smoothed and brightened, with features reshaped, leading some to comment that she appeared to be wearing a mask.
This phenomenon, known as "Facetune blindness," happens when someone heavily and repeatedly edits their photos using apps like Facetune or FaceApp. The edited version eventually becomes the person's new normal, and the odd, mask-like quality that outsiders spot stops registering for them. The reason behind people not seeing the edits lies in the apps' ability to make dramatic changes effortlessly, leading many to start with subtle tweaks and escalate over time.
As the processed face becomes the reference point, the unedited self starts to look undesirable. The pressure on public figures is amplified, as social media rewards polished and youthful images, leading to more editing and less awareness of how far the edits have gone. Nonku Williams is not the first to trigger this debate, as other local personalities, such as Omuhle Gela, Lerato Kganyago, and JoJo Robinson, have also faced similar criticism for filtered-looking photos.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
