TikTok announce they will block beauty filters for teens
TikTok’s move to restrict beauty filters for users under 18 reflects growing concerns over their impact on mental health, especially for teenage girls.
These filters, which alter facial features like skin tone and lip size, have been linked to body dissatisfaction and unrealistic beauty standards. The platform plans to make it clearer how filters modify appearances, aiming to foster more self-awareness and reduce the pressure of perfectionism.
This change is part of a broader effort to address social media’s role in shaping self-esteem and body image among young people.
The decision also aligns with TikTok’s updated policies to detect and block accounts of users under 13 through machine learning, bolstered by moderator reviews.
These steps come amid mounting pressure on tech companies to protect children from the harmful effects of prolonged exposure to curated, unrealistic online images.
“There’s no finish line when it comes to safety and security, and we will continue to learn from our community, partner with experts and strive to do even better,” Christine Grahn, TikTok’s European public policy head, said on LinkedIn.
Experts argue that these measures, while positive, are just a start. Advocates emphasize the importance of educating teens about the heavily curated nature of online content and encouraging the embrace of authenticity.
Campaigns promoting body positivity and diversity aim to counteract the dominance of filtered perfectionism, helping young people build confidence and critical thinking skills when navigating social media.
This shift highlights a growing demand for platforms to prioritize the mental well-being of their users over engagement metrics.
