Some users report that social media TikTok applied a "beauty filter", who changed their faces without asking. The setting could not be removed and appears to be an artificial intelligence intervention that "judges" those it deems to be less attractive faces, automatically changing them before they go on stream.
TikTok: the automatic “beauty filter” that users don't want
In the virtual pages of MIT Technology Review (link at the bottom of the article), Tori Dawn tells a strange fact that happened to her using TikTok. Turned on the camera before recording, with which he would join his 320 follower, realizes that the framed face is not his. In particular, the line of his jaw looks thinner. Closer to the standard that some would call "feminine". Passing his hand in front of his face, to avoid being recognized by TikTok's artificial intelligence, his jaw reappeared as it is: more pronounced and decisive. Beautiful, the way she likes it.
Dawn tried to search through the settings to see if she had inadvertently operated a beauty filter on TikTok, but found nothing. So he decided to post a video for his followers in which he explains that “I don't feel comfortable making videos because this it's not my appearance and I don't know how to fix it ". In the video below you can see the effect but also the frustration of the influencer.
congrats tiktok I am super comfy and disphoric now cuz of whatever the fuck this shit is
♬ original sound – Tori DawnAn unsolicited virtual trick
In response to this video, many users wondered how widespread the phenomenon was. One of the comments in response says "is that why I look like an alien lately?" Many users have therefore reported that their face was modified to be thinner, or less angular. Many others have said that the their skin looked smoother, the more discreet cheekbones, the more symmetrical eyes.
The effect was only visible on Android smartphone, as it seems. After a few days of Dawn's video, the effect disappeared. The company explained to the pressure from some of the press that there had been a misunderstanding that had been resolved. But no details as to what happened.
The psychological impact of TikTok's beauty filter
The effect does not exist only on TikTok, even if the social network is the most widespread in the West among those that do it. Many applications developed in China have apparently been performing a "default" retouch. As the researcher explains Amy Niu, which tested the Chinese version of TikTok douyin, "When I took out all the beauty modes and filters, I could still see some adjustments to my face." And Niu reports that even apps like WeChat and others for video calls automatically “correct” those they consider imperfections in users' faces.
Beauty filters are not a bad thing in themselves. Changing your physical appearance can make it more satisfied with the shots or videos posted, without the need to spend time putting on makeup. But imposing a unique beauty standard by default is more problematic. Because an objective beauty standard does not exist: it only serves to conform to one conventional body image.
The philosopher David Hume wrote that "The beauty of things exists in the mind that contemplates them". AND certainly not in the algorithms of an artificial intelligence of a social network. So beauty filters are welcome but not if forced: everyone can present themselves on social media as they prefer. Especially since imposing default beauty standards on an app so used by the very young does not seem like a healthy choice.
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In any case, TikTok has called this a mistake, even if from the outside it seems almost an experiment. Which the community did not appreciate at all.
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