TikTok has exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the most used social media platforms globally. As of 2022, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide (source). The app is especially popular among Gen Z, with over 60% of TikTok’s global audience between the ages of 10 and 29.
One of the app’s most viral features is its filters that allow users to transform their appearance. In particular, the gender change filter gained significant popularity in 2022, allowing users to see themselves as the opposite gender. Videos using the filter went massively viral, garnering billions of views. The filter appealed to TikTok users’ curiosity and creativity, while also sparking conversations about gender fluidity and identity.
Prerequisites
To use the gender change filter on TikTok, you first need to have the TikTok app installed on your device (iPhone/Android) and an account set up. If you don’t already have TikTok, you can download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play Store. Once downloaded, open the app and select “Sign Up”. You will need to provide your email address or phone number, date of birth, and create a password. TikTok requires users to be at least 13 years old.
After entering your information, you can select a profile photo and username. Make sure to read and agree to TikTok’s Terms of Service. Once your account is created, you can start using the app, following other accounts, and try out the gender change filter.
According to this tutorial, signing up for TikTok only takes a few minutes. Having an account setup is required before you can access features like filters.
Find the Filter
The first step in applying the gender swap filter on TikTok is to find the actual filter in the app. Here’s how to find and select the gender swap filter:
Open the TikTok app and tap on the discover icon at the bottom to browse popular effects and filters. This looks like a magnifying glass icon.
Next, select the “Effects” tab at the top of the screen. This will display various filters and effects organized into categories.
In the search bar, type “gender swap” and tap enter. This will pull up the specific gender swap filter.
Tap on the gender swap filter preview to open it. Make sure it says “Gender Swap” at the bottom to confirm you have the right filter.
Now that you’ve found the gender swap filter in the TikTok app, you can proceed to taking a selfie and applying the effect.
Take a Selfie
Once you have the filter open, the next step is to take a selfie photo that will be used for the gender swap effect. Make sure to follow these tips when taking your selfie:
Tap the red record button at the bottom of the screen, then tap the camera flip icon to switch to your front-facing camera. Position your face in the center of the frame and make sure your full face is visible. Arrange your hair how you like – pulling it back can ensure your facial features are clearly visible. Give a neutral facial expression, avoid smiling with teeth showing.
When ready, tap the camera button to take the photo. You can take multiple selfies to choose the best one later. Try taking some straight on, and some angled slightly up or down. Just make sure your full face is captured. Review the photos and retake if needed until you get a quality selfie.
Cite: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/guy-selfie-tips?lang=he-IL
Apply the Gender Swap Filter
Once you’ve taken your selfie, it’s time to apply the actual gender swap filter. Here are the steps:
Tap the effects button at the bottom of the screen. This will bring up TikTok’s library of filters and effects.
Scroll through the options until you find the “gender swap” filter. As of February 2023, it’s listed under “Trending.” Tap on it to select it.
With the filter selected, you’ll see a preview of what your face will look like with the gender swapped applied. You can tap the preview to see a full-screen version.
The filter will automatically make your facial features look more masculine or feminine. It’s a really cool effect and can make you look like a completely different person!
If you want to adjust the filter, you can play around with the intensity slider to increase or decrease the gender swapping effect.
Once you’re happy with how it looks, move on to recording your TikTok video with the filter enabled.
Record the Video
Once you have applied the gender swap filter and taken some selfies, it’s time to record your TikTok video showcasing the effect. According to video experts, TikTok videos tend to perform best when they are under 60 seconds long (source: Winning TikTok Video Ideas and Best Practices).
When recording your video, capture yourself reacting to seeing your gender-swapped face for the first time. Provide humorous commentary and reactions that play up the transformation. This will make for engaging video content that viewers will want to watch and share. As social media experts recommend, add your personality and humor to make your TikTok stand out (source: How to Make a TikTok Video).
Flip back and forth between your normal face and your gender-swapped face for maximum comedic effect. Say things like “Am I beautiful or handsome now?” and dramatically pretend to toss your hair. The sillier and more exaggerated your reactions, the better. Just make sure the video shows off the gender swap filter clearly.
Keep recording new takes until you capture the perfect gender transformation reveal for TikTok. Strive for an authentic, humorous reaction that packs personality into under 60 seconds. This on-trend video is sure to attract views and go viral!
Edit the Video
After applying the gender change filter, you can edit the TikTok video further within the app. This allows you to trim the start or end of the video as needed to get the perfect clip.
You can access the editing tools by tapping on the checkmark after recording your video. This will take you to the posting screen, where you can tap “Edit” at the bottom.
Use the slider tool at the bottom to trim off any unwanted footage at the beginning or end. Be sure to preview the changes to get the timing just right.
TikTok’s editor also allows you to add text, stickers, music, and more. Tap the + icon to explore creative elements to overlay on your video. Position text and stickers wherever you like by dragging them around the screen.
Refer to TikTok’s video editing tips to further polish your video with transitions, captions, and visual effects.
With some quick trimming and stylish editing, you can take your TikTok video to the next level before posting.
Post the Video
Once your video is edited to perfection, it’s time to post it on TikTok. Start by giving the video a compelling title and description to grab people’s attention. The title can be up to 30 characters, while the description allows up to 150 characters to explain what the video is about.
Next, add relevant hashtags to help the right audience discover your video. Check what’s trending and use popular tags like #genderchange and #fyp but also include niche ones tailored to your specific video.
When posting, you can choose who can view your video – either set it to public so anyone can see it, or limit it to just friends. You can also enable features like allowing others to duet with or stitch your video if you want to encourage audience participation.
According to TikTok experts, the best practice is to post natively within the TikTok app rather than cross-posting. Pay attention to optimal posting times too, like late afternoon and evenings when more users are active.
Once your video is live, watch the analytics to see how it’s performing. Respond to comments, follow up with fans, and post consistently to keep growing your audience.
Going Viral
Going viral on TikTok takes a combination of skill, timing, and luck. Here are some tips for creating shareable content that has the potential to go viral:
Take advantage of trends and hashtags. Pay attention to the latest viral dances, memes, challenges, and sounds that are gaining popularity on TikTok. Creating content that ties into trending topics gives it a better chance of being discovered in searches and recommended to more users. Strategic use of popular hashtags is key.
Promote your video creatively. Ask followers to duet or stitch your video to help expand its reach. Comment on other top videos to try getting noticed. Share your content across other social platforms. Collaborate with TikTok creators that have a large following. Use captions, stickers, effects and transitions that make your content visually engaging.
Most viral hits involve an element of luck in taking off amongst the right audience at the right moment. But utilizing trends strategically, optimizing videos for sharing, and persistently promoting your content will increase the odds of TikTok stardom.
Conclusion
In this guide, we walked through how to find and apply the gender swap filter on TikTok to create fun and engaging videos. To recap, the key steps are:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on the discover icon to browse filter options
- Tap on the gender swap filter to preview it
- Take a selfie or use an existing photo from your camera roll
- Apply the filter and adjust as needed
- Record a video with the filter activated
- Edit the video if desired by adding effects, text, or sounds
- Post the video and use relevant hashtags to increase visibility
The gender swap filter is just one of many fun options on TikTok. Be sure to explore other popular filters like the anime filter, retro filter, or galaxy filter. Get creative and make videos showing both your original face and gender-swapped version side-by-side. The key is to have fun and engage your audience!
