TikTok prohibits the use of facial filters

The Chinese platform TikTok, owned by ByteDance, has recently announced global restrictions on the use of facial filters due to growing and justified concerns over increased anxiety and decreased self-esteem among young people. Starting in the coming weeks, all underage users will be prevented from using filters associated with distorted and digital beauty: they will no longer be able to use filters that enlarge eyes, increase lip volume, or smooth skin tone. TikTok announced these global restrictions during a safety forum at its European headquarters in Dublin.

The new hyper-realistic facial filters

Last year, the Bold Glamour filter sparked interest and controversy due to its extremely realistic effect. Unlike older filters, generated using augmented reality (AR) that glitched during sudden movements, Bold Glamour seamlessly adhered to the face, transforming all faces it was applied to. Some journalists speculated that this filter was the result of generative artificial intelligence. Restrictions will apply to filters like this, which alter facial features in ways that would be otherwise unimaginable—unless involving extensive use of cosmetic surgery.

Without Filters: Authenticity, Belonging, and Connection

Since facial filters are predominantly used by young women, they have often been criticized as a creative way to modify, beautify, and distort one’s image—something women, it is implied, are accustomed to. In a 2020 study involving girls aged 10 to 11, researcher Claire Pescott highlighted how such technologies were underestimated: one interviewee admitted being unhappy with her appearance, stating, "I wish I could wear a filter right now." Four years later, the decision to impose these restrictions followed a report commissioned by TikTok and authored by the non-profit organization Internet Matters, evaluating the impact of facial filters on young people’s self-esteem, titled Unfiltered: Authenticity, Belonging & Connection. The research included testimonies from young users whose self-image was significantly influenced by facial filters. A 17-year-old Swedish user shared her experience with a filter that made her lips look fuller: “I never had issues with my lips before, but now I can’t look at them without thinking they’re too small and should look like that filter.”

The report emphasizes how facial filters, originally designed to elicit humor, can have a genuine negative impact on self-concept and self-esteem. The decision to implement stricter measures to limit minors’ access to certain filters represents an important step toward mental health protection. These measures include not only restrictions on filter usage for minors but also more information about the filters. According to the new guidelines, the platform will provide additional information about how a filter may alter a user’s appearance when applied.

What Are Other Platforms Doing?

On a broader scale, other companies like Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, have announced the removal of third-party facial filters starting January 2025. In 2017, the company made available the Spark AR platform, allowing creators, designers, and users to create facial filters. However, the platforms will continue to promote proprietary filters owned by the company.