Teenagers will soon face recent restrictions on TikTok because the platform moves to ban beauty filters that dramatically alter their facial expression. The changes, that are set to roll out in the approaching weeks, will block under-18s from using filters that smooth skin, alter skin tone, or enlarge lips and eyes. While playful effects like cat ears or bunny noses won’t be affected, popular tools just like the viral “Daring Glamour” filter will fall victim to the ban.
The restrictions come amid growing concerns about how social media negatively impacts self-image amongst younger users. Beauty filters, which create polished and flawless features, have been shown to exacerbate body image issues, especially in young girls. This concern is a component of a wider cultural preoccupation with image, which has seen an influx in viral anti-ageing products and even led to teens hiring make-up artists for his or her first day of faculty. Such trends have already led to actions like Sweden’s ban on children purchasing anti-ageing skincare products.
After TikTok announced the changes during a security forum at its European headquarters in Dublin, the corporate’s child safety policy lead explained to The Guardian, “We’re aiming for a safety-first approach.” The platform also revealed plans to boost its age verification systems, including trials of AI-based technology to discover users under 13, who’re prohibited from using the app altogether. If successful, these measures could lead to 1000’s of accounts being removed within the UK by the tip of 2024.
TikTok’s decision comes as social media platforms receive growing pressure from regulators over their influence on young mental health. The UK’s upcoming Online Safety Act will implement stricter oversight, with penalties for platforms that fail to guard younger users. Although TikTok already removes tens of millions of underage accounts each quarter, critics have pointed to the inconsistencies in its efforts.
While beauty filters have change into central to wider conversations about how social media influences self-esteem, the difficulty is far larger. The NSPCC described the age protection move as “encouraging,” but “just the tip of the iceberg,” emphasising that platforms must take greater responsibility for the algorithms that promote harmful content to young users, The Guardian reported.
In a wider trend, other platforms are rushing to implement safeguarding measures. Roblox has introduced restrictions on explicit content for younger players, and Instagram has rolled out parental controls for teenage users to comply with the tighter regulations.
