Filtered: Short Story 

Emily didn’t like the way she looked in photos anymore.

It wasn’t one bad picture. Those used to pass. This didn’t.

It was constant. A low, steady pressure that showed up the second her phone lit up.

She sat cross-legged on her bed and opened Instagram anyway.

Perfect lighting. Perfect skin. Perfect angles.

Girls from school. Influencers. Strangers. Everyone looked effortless in a way she couldn’t figure out how to copy.

She stopped on a post from a girl in her grade,someone she’d passed in the hallway a hundred times.

In the photo, the girl looked like a different person.

Smoother. Smaller. Brighter.

Emily felt it then,that small drop in her stomach.

She tapped her own profile.

Same face. Same features.

But not the same.

She opened one of her pictures and zoomed in.

Her skin looked uneven.

Her smile looked practiced.

Her face just looked… off.

“Why do I look like that?” she said, barely loud enough to hear.

Her chest tightened.

She locked her phone. The screen went black and gave her back a dim version of herself,blurred, slightly warped.

For a second, she couldn’t tell which version was real.

Her phone buzzed.

Ryan: are you still coming over?

She stared at it longer than she needed to.

Emily: yeah, in a bit

She set the phone down, then picked it up again without thinking, then set it down for good.

Ryan always said she looked good.

He said it like he meant it.

That was the problem.

---

Ryan opened the door before she knocked.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

He stepped in like he was going to hug her. This time she didn’t pull back, but there was still a split second where she thought about it.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

He didn’t look convinced.

They sat on the couch. Something played on the TV. Neither of them watched it.

“Em,” he said after a minute.

“Hmm?”

“You’ve been kinda quiet.”

“I’m just tired.”

He studied her face like he was trying to read something she hadn’t said.

“You sure?”

She nodded.

He reached over and took her hand.

“You look really nice today.”

She pulled her hand back.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Just,don’t say that.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s not true.”

He leaned back a little, confused. “What are you talking about? Of course it is.”

She shook her head.

“I’ve seen what other girls look like.”

“On your phone?” he said.

She didn’t answer.

“Em, that stuff isn’t real.”

“I know,” she said. “But it still looks better than me.”

The words came out flat. Certain.

She hated that.

---

That night, she was back on her bed before she even realized she’d picked up her phone.

Instagram opened like muscle memory.

Scroll.

Scroll.

Scroll.

Different people. Same result.

She stopped on a video.

Before.

After.

The second version looked like someone else entirely.

Better.

Prettier.

Comments poured in under it.

Glow up.

Perfect.

I wish I looked like you.

Emily’s chest tightened, sharper this time.

She locked her phone.

Unlocked it again.

Opened the camera.

Her face filled the screen.

It didn’t hold still. It shifted with every angle, every small movement.

She tilted her chin.

Turned slightly.

Tried again.

Nothing landed.

Her chest felt heavy, like she couldn’t get a full breath.

She dropped the phone onto the bed like it had burned her.

---

At lunch the next day, her friends were louder than usual.

“Wait,picture,” someone said.

They all leaned in.

Emily smiled because that’s what you do.

Click.

“Let me see!”

The phone moved around the table.

Emily leaned in just enough to look.

There it was.

Everyone else looked easy. Unaware.

And then there was her.

“Wait, don’t post that,” she said.

“Why not?”

“I just look bad.”

“You look fine.”

She shook her head, already pulling back. “No, I don’t.”

Her face felt hot, like she’d been singled out even though no one was really paying attention anymore.

---

That night:

Ryan: are you mad at me?

Emily: no

Ryan: it doesn’t feel like it

She stared at the typing bar for a long time.

Emily: im just tired

She hovered over send, then pressed it anyway.

---

Later, she opened Instagram again.

The same faces. The same angles.

But something about it felt… thin.

Like she could see through it a little.

Her reflection sat over everything, faint in the glass.

Not perfect.

Not edited.

Just there.

She held the phone still.

Then, slowly, she turned it facedown.

She expected the feeling to spike again.

It didn’t.

It stayed where it was.

Tight, but not getting tighter.

That was new.

---

The next day, someone said, “Another picture.”

Emily hesitated.

Then, “Okay.”

They leaned in.

Click.

It was over before she could think about it too much.

She felt the urge to ask to see it.

She didn’t.

Later, Ryan texted.

She answered right away.

You look nice today, he wrote.

Her thumbs hovered over the screen.

The usual response sat there, ready.

She deleted it.

“I guess,” she typed instead.

It wasn’t belief.

But it wasn’t pushing it away, either.

For now, that was enough.

Filtered: Discussion

For my short story Filtered, I focused my revisions on improving emotional depth, pacing, and overall writing style so it felt less like an assignment and more like a realistic, publishable story. After rereading my original draft, I noticed that although the message and conflict were clear, some parts felt repetitive and overly explained. The emotions were stated directly instead of being shown through actions, thoughts, and dialogue.

To improve this, I refined the language to make it more natural and subtle. I removed unnecessary repetition and simplified sentences so the story flowed more smoothly. Instead of explaining Emily’s feelings, I focused on showing them through small details, like her physical reactions, pauses, and hesitation in conversations. I also adjusted the dialogue with Ryan and her friends to sound more realistic and less structured.

I worked on pacing by tightening some sections and slowing down key moments, especially when Emily interacts with her phone or reflects on her appearance. This helped build a stronger emotional progression toward the ending. I also improved paragraph structure to make the story easier to read and more visually balanced.

Finally, I edited for grammar, punctuation, and consistency, making sure the tone stayed simple but effective throughout.

These changes made the story feel more engaging and authentic. The message about social media and self-image comes across more naturally, and Emily’s growth feels more subtle and realistic. Overall, the revised version is more polished and closer to something that could realistically be published.

Feature Assignment

Behind the Screen: The Real Impact of Cyberbullying on Teens

Most teenagers check their phones before they even get out of bed. It’s automatic. Notifications, messages, and social media updates are often the first thing they see. Most of the time, it’s just harmless scrolling. But sometimes, what shows up on the screen can ruin an entire day.

A single comment. A screenshot. A message meant as a joke that doesn’t feel like one.

For many teens, cyberbullying is not rare. It’s part of everyday online life.

Cyberbullying refers to bullying that happens through digital devices like phones, computers, and tablets. It can include sending hurtful messages, posting embarrassing photos, spreading rumors, or sharing private information. Unlike traditional bullying, it doesn’t end when the school day is over. It can follow someone home, show up late at night, and continue all weekend. According to Statistics Canada, about one in four Canadian youth report experiencing cyberbullying at some point. This shows how common the issue has become.

One of the reasons cyberbullying feels so overwhelming is how quickly things spread online. A single post can be shared with hundreds of people in minutes. Even if it’s deleted, screenshots often remain. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection explains that online harassment often includes repeated messages, public humiliation, or sharing images without consent. Because the audience can be so large, the emotional impact is often stronger than people expect.

The effects on mental health are serious. Research from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows that teens who experience cyberbullying are more likely to struggle with anxiety, depression, and isolation. Social media can make this worse, since harmful content can be seen again and again. It’s not just one moment. It becomes something that repeats.

Another issue is that many teens don’t report what’s happening. Some are worried their parents will take away their phones. Others feel embarrassed or think speaking up might make things worse. Public Safety Canada notes that many cases go unreported for these reasons. As a result, the problem often continues longer than it should.

In some cases, cyberbullying can lead to legal consequences. Sharing intimate images without consent is a criminal offense in Canada. Schools are also taking the issue more seriously. Many now have policies that allow them to respond to online behaviour, even if it happens outside of school. This reflects how online actions can still affect students in real life.

Education is one of the most effective ways to reduce cyberbullying. Organizations like MediaSmarts work with schools to teach students about digital literacy, online behaviour, and privacy. Their programs encourage students to think about what they post and how it affects others. Instead of just telling teens what not to do, they focus on helping them understand why it matters.

Parents also play an important role. Experts recommend having open conversations about social media rather than simply restricting it. Public Safety Canada and MediaSmarts suggest setting clear expectations, talking about appropriate behaviour, and helping teens understand privacy settings. Teaching teens how to block users, report harmful content, and save evidence can also make a difference. When parents stay involved and informed, teens are more likely to develop healthier online habits.

At its core, cyberbullying is still about respect. Technology makes it easier to communicate, but it can also create distance. It’s easy to forget there’s a real person behind the screen.

The impact, however, is very real.

Social media will continue to be part of everyday life. Because of that, addressing cyberbullying matters more than ever. Schools, families, and online platforms all have a role to play in creating safer spaces. With better awareness, clearer expectations, and more thoughtful use of technology, online spaces can become more supportive.

Checking a phone should not be something that causes stress or fear.

It should just be checking a phone.

Work Cited

Craig, Wendy, et al. THE HEALTH of YOUNG PEOPLE in CANADA: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION COLLABORATIVE CROSS-NATIONAL STUDY FINDINGS from the 2022 HEALTH BEHAVIOUR in SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN STUDY FOCUS on MENTAL HEALTH. Jan. 2025.

“Dangerous Reality: What Parents Need to Know about the Metaverse.” Protectchildren.ca, 3 Mar. 2022, www.protectchildren.ca/en/press-and-media/news-releases/2022/metaverse. 

Hango, Darcy. “Online Harms Faced by Youth and Young Adults: The Prevalence and Nature of Cybervictimization.” Www150.Statcan.gc.ca, 21 Feb. 2023, www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2023001/article/00003-eng.htm.

Mediasmarts. “Cyberbullying Overview.” MediaSmarts, 11 Dec. 2014, mediasmarts.ca/cyberbullying/cyberbullying-overview.

Public Safety Canada. “Info Sheet: Cyberbullying.” Publicsafety.gc.ca, 2015, www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2015-r038/index-en.aspx.

Feature Assignment: Discussion