A new TikTok trend has ignited discussions about body image and the deep-seated biases within beauty standards, particularly those tied to race and class. The controversy stems from a viral filter that alters users' appearances to make them look either larger or thinner.
Many videos using the filter show thinner individuals laughing when the effect makes them appear bigger, while others feature larger users embracing the slimming effect as supposed "motivation." The trend is frequently set to Doechii’s song 'Anxiety', amplifying the emotional weight of the content.
It comes as a chock to no one that the backlash was almost instant, with critics condemning the filter for reinforcing harmful beauty ideals and promoting body shaming.
Following the uproar, TikTok removed the filter from its video-editing app, CapCut. A company spokesperson told CNET that the filter had been taken down, while TikTok also informed the BBC that videos featuring the effect were being reviewed, blocked from teen accounts, and made ineligible for recommendation. However, similar versions of the filter remain accessible on the platform.
TikTok’s Role in Social Responsibility
The controversy over the body-altering filter comes as TikTok continues to face scrutiny over its influence on young users.
At the same time, the platform has introduced features aimed at positive social impact, such as its recent partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to implement Amber Alerts, which you can read more about here.
These alerts, which now appear directly in users' 'For You' feeds and provide crucial details about missing children, including photos and identifying information. Unlike traditional phone and TV alerts, TikTok’s system interrupts scrolling with a black screen featuring the alert, ensuring visibility among the platform’s vast audience.
While TikTok’s efforts to address real-world issues like child safety have been praised, incidents like the viral body filter trend serve as a reminder of the platform’s ongoing challenge in balancing user engagement with social responsibility.
