The social media platform TikTok has introduced a captivating new filter named Bold Glamour, which moves beyond the ongoing discussions regarding harmful beauty standards on social media, offering users a strikingly different appearance.
This feature was discreetly launched for the app’s vast user base of over a billion, seamlessly merging a user’s facial features with an AI-generated ideal resembling a supermodel, eliciting a mix of amusement and concern.
Numerous TikTok posts highlight users’ astonishment at the filter’s capabilities, showcasing exaggerated features like fuller lips, sculpted jaws, and luxurious eyebrows that reflect high-fashion aesthetics.
“This marks another wave of the ‘beauty myth’,” noted Kim Johnson, an associate professor of nursing at Middle Georgia State University in the U.S. She argues that such effects can trigger detrimental behaviors, including extreme dieting, social comparison, and diminished self-esteem.
While filters and effects have long been integral to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, the latest offerings, including Bold Glamour, present enhanced and more powerful features.
“This technology is anything but subtle. Its effects are immediate and striking,” commented Gwendolyn Seidman, a psychology professor at Albright College, in Psychology Today. She pointed out the challenges faced by impressionable teens, who may struggle to reconcile their real appearance once the filter is removed.
– ‘So cool’ –
Beyond the concerning implications of Bold Glamour’s aesthetics, observers are intrigued by the underlying technology, pondering whether the app signifies a significant advancement in artificial intelligence.
Previously, filters tended to apply a visible effect over the user’s face, which could be easily recognized with sudden movements. However, Bold Glamour transcends this limitation.
Mixed reality artist Luke Hurd shared insights on TikTok, expressing admiration for the filter’s realism, stating, “You can put your hand in front of your face, and it still looks incredibly authentic.”
What’s more, while such technology has typically required sophisticated computers, real-time filters are now accessible on smartphones, democratizing their use.
“This represents AI technology made accessible to the public, enabling anyone to alter their appearance, and that’s what is grabbing attention,” remarked Andrew Selepak, a social media professor at the University of Florida.
When approached for comment by AFP, TikTok refrained from elaborating on the specific technology behind the filter, keeping its operational methods somewhat unclear. Nevertheless, the company emphasized its commitment to fostering a supportive environment where “being true to yourself is celebrated,” asserting that such effects help promote “self-expression and creativity.”
Experts suggest that Bold Glamour employs generative AI, akin to technologies used in applications like ChatGPT and Dall-E, capable of producing creative content almost instantaneously.
Petr Somol, the AI research director at the tech security firm Gen, noted that while similar filters have existed for some time, TikTok’s latest version is notably refined and sophisticated.
If Bold Glamour indeed utilizes generative AI, it implies a reliance on extensive data collections to achieve its striking effects. This raises concerns particularly as the Chinese-owned company faces increased scrutiny from the U.S. and other Western governments due to apprehensions surrounding potential ties to the Chinese government.
“The real question is whether TikTok acknowledges the implications associated with this captivating technology,” Selepak commented.
– Path to ‘deep fake’ –
As discussions around catfishing, scams, and deep fake technology gain traction, some critics question the potential misuse of advanced filters, suggesting they could pave the way for more deceptive practices in digital interactions.
“These filters aren’t strictly deep fake technology, but they certainly create a clear trajectory towards it,” explained Somol.
Siwei Lyu, a computer science professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, expressed skepticism that major platforms like TikTok or Instagram would intentionally distribute tools that could be utilized unethically. However, he acknowledged that individuals with a strong grasp of the technology could indeed manipulate it to evade detection, facilitating harmful practices.
