TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to create and share 15 second to 3 minute videos. As of 2023, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide (Source). It is especially popular among Generation Z, with over 60% of TikTok’s global audience between the ages of 16 and 24.
In 2019, a viral gender swap filter gained popularity on TikTok. The filter allowed users to swap their gender in videos, showing them what they might look like as the opposite sex. The gender swap videos quickly became a trend on the platform, with both regular users and big TikTok stars trying out the filter. The trend highlighted one of TikTok’s key features – fun filters that add creativity to videos.
What is the Gender Swap Filter?
The gender swap filter is a digital effect that alters a person’s perceived gender in photos and videos. It uses facial recognition and artificial intelligence to analyze a face and then morph and transform facial features to make a person appear more masculine or feminine.
The filter has become popular on social media for creating viral videos where users show their “opposite gender” self. For example, male TikTok creators have used the filter to transform themselves into female versions, often as part of the “GenderSwap” trend. The videos typically show the abrupt and dramatic transition from male to female or vice versa.
According to Wondershare’s gender swap filter (Swap Gender to See the Other You), the AI analyzes features like skin texture, face shape, eyes, nose, lips, eyebrows and hairstyle to achieve a believable gender transformed face.
Origin of the Filter
The gender swap filter originated with Snapchat in May 2019, when they released a filter that allowed users to see what they would look like as the opposite gender. This type of filter became hugely popular, with Snapchat reporting that the filter had been used over 200 million times shortly after its release (Know Your Meme).
While Snapchat is credited with creating the first mainstream gender swap filter, it quickly spread in popularity to other platforms like Instagram and TikTok. In October 2019, TikTok added their own iteration of the gender swap filter which also went viral. Users were intrigued by getting a glimpse at their alternate gender doppelgänger. Videos using TikTok’s filter received millions of views, helping drive further adoption of the app.
Is the Filter Built into TikTok?
The gender swap filter is not natively included in TikTok. To use the effect, users need to download and install third-party apps that offer gender swap filters. Some popular apps for accessing the filter on TikTok include FaceApp, Snapchat, and various filter or photo editing apps.
To use a third-party gender swap filter in TikTok, simply record a video in the app or upload a photo from your camera roll. Then, open the filter app and apply the gender swap effect to your media. Save the resulting photo or video, and upload it to TikTok as you normally would.
FaceApp offers a realistic gender swap filter and is one of the more popular choices. The app is free to download and use, though some advanced filters require a paid subscription. To find the gender swap filter in FaceApp, select the camera icon and swipe through the options at the bottom until you see “Gender” [1]. Snapchat also includes various gender swap lenses accessible when using the front facing camera.
While TikTok itself does not have a built-in gender swap filter at this time, users have plenty of options through third-party apps. The most realistic effects typically require downloading additional software rather than using what’s already on your phone.
Controversies
The gender swap filters have generated some controversies and issues around perpetuating gender stereotypes. Some critics argue the filters promote regressive and binary views of gender by just having a simple male to female or vice versa switch (https://thenextweb.com/news/why-gender-swap-photo-filters-are-still-problematic). The exaggerated feminine or masculine features reinforce stereotypical beauty standards. There’s also concern that the filters are being used to normalize harmful behavior, like tricking unsuspecting people on dating apps (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/15/is-snapchats-gender-swap-filter-seriously-worrying-or-just-silly-fun).
In 2019, Instagram banned the gender-changing and other filters from Spark AR that promoted plastic surgery or made changes to facial structure. Some felt this was an overreach in limiting creative filters, while others saw it as a positive step against promoting unrealistic beauty expectations (https://thenextweb.com/news/why-gender-swap-photo-filters-are-still-problematic). There are still ongoing debates around the implications of these filters and whether they do more harm than good.
Psychology Behind the Filter
The popularity of gender swap filters reveals some interesting insights into human psychology. According to Dr. Amy Orben, a social media researcher at the University of Cambridge, using a filter that changes a core aspect of one’s identity allows people to “try on” different personas in a low-risk setting (Seattle Times, 2019). It satisfies curiosity about how one might look or be perceived as the opposite gender. Stanford psychologist Jeff Hancock notes these filters let people “play with identity” and explore “aspirational selves” they wish to become, free from societal constraints (Mashable, 2019).
Some psychologists theorize that swapping one’s gender presentation satisfies a human need for novelty and stimulation (Smarticons, 2023). The filter provides a form of escapism from daily life. Teens in particular enjoy experimenting with gender presentation at an age when identity exploration is developmentally appropriate. However, experts caution that while curiosity about gender is normal, sustained gender swapping could indicate discomfort with one’s birth-assigned gender and should be discussed with a counselor.
Ultimately, psychologists concur that casual use of gender filters is likely harmless fun and games for most people. But the technology also serves as an insightful window into the fluidity of gender identity and presentation in the digital age.
Impact on Trans Community
Social media filter’s impact on the trans community have been mixed. Some argue it can increase trans visibility and understanding. According to Brynn Tannehill, director of advocacy at the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, “These filters do help normalize diversity and difference. It shows people that, ‘I’m not that different from the people I know'” (Source).
However, some trans influencers have argued that the filter spreads harmful stereotypes. Trans YouTuber Natalie Wynn argues that the filter “reduces gender to a carnivalesque costume, making a costume out of being trans…It entrenches the idea that gender presentation is actually what makes your gender” (Source).
Overall, while the filters may promote visibility, their simplification of gender has raised concerns in the trans community. More dialogue may be needed on how to leverage technology in empowering ways.
Other Gender Swap Filters
In addition to the filter on TikTok, there are similar gender swap filters available on other popular social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram. On Snapchat, the “Gender Switch” lens allows users to see what they would look like as the opposite gender. Instagram has various third-party filters that users can access to transform their appearance.
The key difference with TikTok’s filter is that it is built directly into the app, making it very convenient and easy to use. TikTok’s algorithm also helps spread videos using the filter widely through the For You page. On other platforms, users need to search out specific lenses or filters to access the gender swap effect. TikTok has made the filter ubiquitous, whereas it remains more of a novelty feature on apps like Snapchat and Instagram.
Some examples of comments on the gender swap filter from other platforms:
“That moment when faceapp and snapchat and other gender swap filters just add a bit of makeup and maybe smooth out your face, and suddenly you’re like “oh crap I’m a girl” and it causes an existential crisis but also cracking your egg – from Reddit
The Future
The popularity of gender swap filters seems likely to continue, at least in the near future. As these filters utilize advanced AI technology to create realistic transformations, the novelty factor remains high. However, some experts speculate that the initial frenzy over filters like these tends to fade over time as users move on to the next viral trend.
There is potential for even more advanced and realistic versions of gender swap filters as the technology continues to progress. FaceLab and other apps are constantly upgrading their algorithms to provide smoother, more natural looking transformations. This increased realism could maintain user interest longer than more primitive filters. We may also see gender swap filters incorporated seamlessly into social media platforms and cameras rather than requiring third-party apps.
While unlikely to permanently replace traditional makeup and visual effects, AI-powered gender swapping offers an easily accessible way for people to explore how they might look as a different gender. As the technology improves, these filters will likely become even more versatile creative tools.
Conclusion
In summary, while TikTok itself does not have a built-in gender swap filter, there are several third-party apps and filters that allow TikTok users to swap their gender in videos. The popularity of these filters reveals an interest in exploring gender identity and presentation online, particularly among younger demographics. However, the filters have also been controversial, with some criticizing their potential negative impacts on transgender individuals. Looking forward, gender swap filters are likely to become even more advanced with improvements in AI and AR technology. While they can be fun and creative tools for self-expression, it will be important to consider how these filters shape perceptions of gender and identity.
The viral popularity of gender swap filters represents a fascinating intersection of technology, psychology, and sociology. As with any new technology, there are potential benefits as well as risks inherent in how these filters may influence perceptions, biases, and even identity formation. Moving forward, the impacts of such technology should continue being researched and debated. Overall, while gender swap filters on TikTok and elsewhere may have originated as lighthearted entertainment, they carry surprising cultural significance that we are just beginning to understand.
