For trans people, gender-swap photo filters are no mere game

Snapchat's new photo filter that allows users to change into a man or woman with the tap of a finger isn't necessarily fun and games for transgender people.

Some say it reduces their very real and often painful experiences to folly.

Thirty-one-year-old Bailey Coffman is a transgender woman from New York. She says that "my gender isn’t a costume."

But some others see the potential for such tools to lead to self-discovery among people struggling with their gender identity.

Elliott Wheeler, a 16-year-old high school student in Michigan, goes by the name Ellie. She says she hopes "this does help some people better recognize their gender."

Snapchat maker Snap Inc. says in a statement that its design team continues work to ensure its filters are diverse and inclusive.