digital blackface
noun
: the use by white people of digital depictions of Black or brown people or skin tones especially for the purpose of self-representation or self-expression
In 2016, the company released a Bob Marley selfie filter as part of "4/20 day" celebrations that darkened users' skin in a caricature of the reggae icon, prompting backlash from users who pointed out the lens was digital blackface.—Suhauna Hussain
While reaction GIFs can be hilarious, when white people use GIFs of black people, it can be a form of digital blackface.—Megan Bigelow
Cite this Entry
“Digital blackface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digital%20blackface. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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