CQ Poll: Should magazines carry warnings about airbrushing? Cast your vote!

It's a good question - should magazines be asked to declare if an image has been altered inside their publication?

If you want my opinion, then that would probably mean declaring it on every page. After all, we weren't born yesterday... most of us realise that what we see posing back at us inside the glossies all polished and perfect isn't the real deal.

Airbrushing, digital manipulation, 'touching up' - whatever you want to call it, it's a huge part of the mag trade but is it time that we got tougher on this industry?

Keep reading to take part in our reader poll...

Following the Model Health Inquiry published last December, the British Fashion Council (BFC) scheduled a meeting with the UK's Periodical Publishers Association to discuss the use of digital enhancements in fashion photography.

While it is simply a chance for both sides to air their views, the BFC will highlight the need to implement guidelines to govern the use of airbrushing in magazines. As such, the suggestion to declare when an image in a magazine has been altered, will be put forward.

What are your thoughts? Do you think magazines need to carry warnings about airbrushing? Will this have any influence on how the models and celebrities in mags are perceived? Tell us by casting your vote in our reader poll, or alternatively leave your comments below.

[Source]

Zoe

I agree with the comments above. May seem a little extreme but would certainly serve as a reminder that everything is not always as it seems - and be good for 'fat' days as a bit of reassurance that nobody's perfect!

cim

Though the more savvy realise it, I think there are plenty of people out there reading magazines who, er, were born yesterday! Or, more importantly, born about thirteen or fifteen years ago. As Lily says, the young are both impressionable and frequently a little more ignorant. It would be a great idea to require some sort of disclaimer, I think.

Helen

I think they should just stop doing it. In practice, warnings will most likely be in small print, in script and colour designed to be unreadable. It won't make any difference except to feel cathartic to the people who arranged it.

Lily

I think most of us realise it goes on, but not quite to what extent. Younger readers especially might not know that virtually every single image in a magazine (and not just the fasion and beauty ones) will have been retouched (including the food pages!). Seeing a label on every single page might be quite eye-opening and who knows, might be embarrassing enough for the companies involved for them to start using slightly more realistic images (wishful thinking, eh?)