Skin lightening is a controversial topic in general, and it doesn’t take much to start another debate on it. Lately, discussions have been aimed at the launch of the Xiaomi Mi 4i, a device that comes with various special features in its camera app, including the ability to enlarge eyes and make them clear, as well as functionality to lighten the skin of the subject. While this is a perfectly normal feature in many parts of the world, certain cultures have a special attitude towards skin lightening, and the launch of the phone has been seen as very controversial in some places.
According to reports, the problems are mainly caused by an app called Beauty Plus which allows the user to modify the appearance of photo subjects significantly, with some critics specifically targeting the app’s ability to enlarge the subject’s eyes. This feature has apparently been enjoying a lot of popularity in Asia, but has been removed from the Indian release of the phone due to the controversy it caused.
Skin lightening is now the main subject of controversy, according to the latest reports, as the phone now has the ability to brighten the skin tone of subjects in pictures, something which has been getting a lot of criticism lately. However, the company is still moving forward with the launch, and is apparently hoping that it will proceed smoothly despite the issues surrounding it.
It would certainly be good to see this launch going smoothly too, as it’s a great-looking phone with good specifications that should prove to be a solid entry into the Android market. The Mi 4i comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in storage memory. It will most certainly be a successful launch on the Android market if the device is received well, but considering these issues that currently surround it, this might be more of a problem for the company than they’re realizing.
On the other hand, it’s good to see that skin lightening has been getting so much attention in the media lately, as it’s a social issue that definitely deserves the extra recognition. There might not be a resolution in sight anytime soon, but at least people are starting to become aware of the social implications that are attached to skin lightening.
If anything else happens surrounding the Xiaomi Mi 4i’s launch on the Indian market, it will likely be in the news immediately, so those interested on the topic should keep an eye out for interesting developments in the coming weeks/months. It’s not unlikely that this launch might even lead to bigger changes eventually, according to some.