TikTok Removes AI 'Chubby Filter' Following Backlash Over Body-Shaming Concerns

The platform has banned the controversial filter, added disclaimers, and restricted related content, but similar effects remain accessible through alternate searches.

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.