Overview

• TikTok has removed the 'chubby filter,' which used AI to simulate weight gain, after criticism for promoting toxic beauty standards and body shaming.
• The filter originally appeared on CapCut, a video-editing app owned by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, but was not directly available on TikTok's app.
• Experts, including Dr. Emma Beckett, condemned the filter for perpetuating harmful stereotypes about larger bodies and contributing to body dissatisfaction and eating disorders.
• TikTok has added disclaimers about body image resources, blocked related content from teen accounts, and is reviewing videos featuring the filter to limit their visibility.
• Despite these measures, alternative versions of the filter remain accessible on TikTok through different search terms, raising questions about content moderation challenges.