Life
Instagram Dropped An "All I Want for Christmas Is You" Filter For Your Holiday Selfies
The time is nigh to bring glad tidings and gifts for the one true reason for the season: Miss Mariah Carey. In honor of the 25th anniversary of the singer’s iconic Christmas album, Instagram is partnering with Mariah Carey to launch an “All I Want For Christmas Is You”-inspired Instagram filter. It’s celebratory! It’s silly! It’s Mariah freakin’ Carey!!!
The “All I Want” custom Instagram effect features the eponymous song, of course, and an automatic zoom that occurs when the song reaches the “YOUUU” part of the chorus. It’s most likely going to be your go-to filter for the rest of December, so here’s how you use it:
- Open your camera on Instagram and swipe to the Snowflake icon. You shouldn’t miss it since it’ll likely be one of the first effects that show up.
- Decide what you want the camera to zoom in on. This is arguably the most difficult step.
- Tap and hold to record as you would any other video. You’ll hear the chorus of the song start playing and the effect will automatically zoom in on whatever is centered in your video.
- Share, rejoice and be glad. You can post the video to your Instagram Stories or send it as a direct message.
- Repeat. You’ll think this step is optional but, unfortunately, you will be obsessed with the effect once you use it for the first time. Pets and pretty holiday decorations, beware.
In addition to the song and the auto-zoom, the effect featuring falling gold snowflakes and a face filter that will make you, in the words of the 2001 Mariah Carey vehicle, Glitter.
Instagram suggests using the “All I Want” effect on “your selfie, your friend’s goofy face, your hot chocolate, pets.” These are all fine options, but if you need a few more suggestions, fear not. I’ve got you covered. Here are eight other things on which you can use the “All I Want For Christmas Is You” Instagram effect.
- Your wrapped presents
- A very large cookie
- Timothée Chalamet's behind-the-scenes photos from Little Women
- A picture of Timothée Chalamet
- The concept of a beach vacation
- That second helping of stuffing you’re debating about getting
- An open Google doc that says 20 Republican Senators to miraculously vote to convict and remove Trump from office
- A photoshopped picture of you and Timothée Chalamet
Despite consistently being one the most listened-to Christmas songs, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” only just hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this year. 25 years overdue, Mariah Carey’s iconic Christmas song finally charted at number 1, according to Billboard. Even though it is on yours, mine, and every mall’s holiday playlist and the fact that it even set the one-day streaming record in 2018, as Billboard reports, 2019 marks the first time the quarter-century-old song became a number 1 hit. Apparently, we collectively were like “I don’t know her” despite streaming the song constantly.
Mariah Carey also just released merch on her Instagram Shop in celebration of her Deluxe Anniversary Edition album. The album will feature the well-known classics from her 1994 album Merry Christmas and will also include a few bonuses including re-recordings of a couple of her iconic holiday hits.
If you’re looking for the perfect way to pass the time while holiday traveling or want an activity that truly anyone can enjoy, Instagram’s new “All I Want For Christmas Is You” effect will be the seasonal salve you seek.
