>>1984calling it a shift is an exaggeration when people have been doing this since the early tumblr days. most of these accounts are just using the same three
filters
to hide how bad their actual photography skills are. it isn't even abt the algorithm favoring grain, it is just that high-res content looks too much like a paid advertisement.
the "unfiltered" look is actually more heavily edited than the polished stuff. if you look at any major fashion account, they still use professional lighting and
high-end equipment but just desaturate everything to mimic that old vibe. where are you even seeing evidence that the reach of crisp photos has dropped?