TikTok automatically applies beauty filter that alters users’ appearance
TikTok’s in-app camera now automatically applies a beauty filter that smooths facial features, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reports. The filter must be manually disabled, raising concerns about its impact on body image, particularly among young users.
The filter, set to a default strength of 30 out of 100, subtly modifies skin texture, lighting, and facial proportions. In Yle’s tests, three individuals appeared visibly smoother and brighter in TikTok’s camera compared to unedited phone photos. The filter softens pores, reduces shadows, and lightens skin tones, creating an idealised but unrealistic appearance.
Digital wellbeing expert Inka Kiuru from the Pelastakaa Lapset (Save the Children) organisation warned that automatic filters reinforce unrealistic beauty standards. “It’s as if we aren’t acceptable as we are,” Kiuru told Yle. She emphasised that children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to the pressure of altered images, which can distort self-perception and fuel insecurity.
Kiuru called for greater transparency, urging platforms to clearly label edited or AI-enhanced content. “Social media isn’t designed to support our wellbeing—it’s built to maximise engagement,” she noted. TikTok did not respond to Yle’s request for comment on the default filter.
Young users in Helsinki interviewed by Yle expressed mixed reactions. Some, like 18-year-old Jessica Jakobson, criticised the filter’s automatic activation, calling it “a big problem” in an era where image manipulation is already widespread. Others, including 20-year-old Kumba Ndong, said they always disable the filter to present themselves authentically. A 16-year-old user observed that friends often look noticeably different in TikTok videos compared to real life.
The filter’s strength can be adjusted or turned off in TikTok’s camera settings, though the option is not prominently displayed. Yle’s demonstration video shows step-by-step how to locate and disable the feature.