What is the Inverted Filter on TikTok?
The inverted filter is a face filter on TikTok that inverts the colors of a user’s face to create an eerie, distorted effect. It launched on TikTok in late 2021 and quickly went viral thanks to videos from popular creators trying it out.
Technically, the filter works by detecting a person’s face and then inverting the hue and saturation values for the skin tones. This transforms the natural colors into their opposite on the color wheel, creating an unnatural, zombie-like appearance with dark eyes, pale skin, and exaggerated features.
While similar effects existed previously on other apps, the inverted filter on TikTok gained popularity through viral videos like user @glambyfab’s October 2021 post “Am I the only one seeing the beauty in this? Or is it just me?” that accumulated over 3 million likes. The creepy, striking visual quickly inspired a wave of users to try it out themselves.
Why Did the Filter Go Viral?
The inverted filter on TikTok went viral in early 2021 because of the novelty and interest around seeing familiar faces and environments in a new way. Users were fascinated to see themselves and their surroundings from this unique inverted perspective. According to an article on Vice, “the inverted filter provides users an opportunity to measure themselves against a standard of facial symmetry.” (Vice) By flipping their image, people could analyze their face in a way they had likely never seen before.
The inverted perspective was akin to seeing a photo negative, providing a fresh look at something familiar. As reported by CNet, this effect appealed to the human desire for novelty. (CNet) It allowed users to see themselves through a new lens, satisfying curiosity. Overall, the viral spread was driven by the human fascination with viewing the ordinary from an extraordinary vantage point.
Criticism and Controversy
The inverted filter sparked significant backlash and criticism when it went viral in 2021.
Many accused the filter of promoting colorism and perpetuating racist beauty standards. By visually distorting facial features in an exaggerated way, critics argued the filter made ethnic features seem undesirable or abnormal (Vice). This raised concerns about the impact on young people’s self-esteem, especially those from minority backgrounds.
Others criticized the filter as insensitive to people with facial disfigurements or conditions. By presenting an inverted face as strange or ugly, they felt it stigmatized and mocked individuals with atypical features they cannot control.
Medical professionals warned the filter could worsen body dysmorphic disorder or other conditions related to self-image (Entertainment Daily). The jarring distortion when seeing one’s own face inverted highlighted flaws in an unnatural way, potentially fueling anxiety and obsession over minute details.
Overall, many viewed the viral trend as promoting unrealistic beauty standards, magnifying insecurities, and spreading harmful societal messaging around physical appearance.
Impact on Culture and Society
The inverted filter sparked broader discussions about beauty standards and racial bias. Many people, especially women, felt distressed by how different they looked with the inverted filter, which seemed to expose flaws and asymmetries. This led to reflections on unrealistic beauty standards promoted by social media and the pressure to look perfect online (https://www.cnet.com/culture/internet/why-the-tiktok-inverted-filter-is-turning-some-peoples-self-esteem-upside-down/).
The filter also highlighted racial biases, as many noticed non-white faces were more distorted compared to white faces. This demonstrated how beauty standards have traditionally favored white features, causing people of color to feel less attractive. The viral videos prompted discussions about Eurocentric beauty ideals and how filters can normalize racism (https://www.vice.com/en/article/93ybga/inverted-filter-tiktok-effect-self-esteem).
Overall, the inverted filter made many users reflect critically on beauty norms and racial prejudice propagated through social media. It sparked cultural conversations about the negative psychological impact of unrealistic standards and the need for more diverse, inclusive definitions of beauty.
Psychological Effects
The popularity of the inverted filter on TikTok has sparked much debate about the psychological effects it can have. Many psychologists theorize that the filter is appealing yet unsettling because it presents a version of ourselves that we are not familiar with seeing.
According to Jill Grose-Fifer, a neuroscientist who studies face perception, the reason we find our inverted faces so jarring is because “we are used to seeing our faces in mirrors, photos, and videos, so we implicitly associate this image with our sense of self” (source). When our facial features are flipped, it creates a sense of unfamiliarity that makes us feel uncomfortable.
Some research has shown that people tend to perceive their mirror image as more attractive than their inverted image (source). This may contribute to why the inverted filter can damage self-confidence and body image for some users. The jarring change highlights flaws we typically do not notice in our regular reflection.
While intriguing, the inverted appearance reminds us that much of our identity and self-image comes from familiarity. The filter ultimately presents an optical illusion, not an objective or accurate representation. But its viral spread reveals our collective fascination with how we look through another lens.
Artistic Uses
Some creators used the inverted filter to create experimental and surreal videos. Artists and filmmakers found that the filter created striking visual effects that altered perceptions and evoked dreamlike imagery. For example, the inverted filter could transform a normal landscape into an eerie alien world. Surrealist painters like Dali were an inspiration for using the inverted filter in a radical new way.
The artist Beeple created an animated video using the inverted filter that gained millions of views. He manipulated the filter’s effects to warp reality and transport the viewer into a hallucinatory realm (source). Other creators made videos that played with inverted filter glitches to achieve a distorted, cyberpunk aesthetic. Overall, the inverted filter opened up innovative artistic possibilities for manipulating color, space, light, and dimension.
Celebrity Examples
The inverted filter became a viral sensation among celebrities on TikTok, with many big names trying out the look. Lizzo posted a video using the filter with the caption “Y’all not ready for Inverted Lizzo” (source). The video gained over 4 million likes. Other celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, and Courtney Cox also hopped on the trend, shocking fans with their inverted appearances. One of the most popular inverted videos came from Jason Derulo, who gained over 17 million views and 2 million likes for his spin on the filter (source). The videos gave fans a fun and surprising new look at their favorite stars.
The inverted filter created a unique way for celebrities to engage with fans and show their silly sides on TikTok. As more names joined in, the viral videos only propelled the trend further into the mainstream pop culture spotlight.
Impact on TikTok
The Inverted Filter has had a significant impact on TikTok, leading to increased downloads and usage of the app. When the filter first went viral in late 2021, TikTok saw a spike in downloads as people rushed to try out the new effect. This trend introduced many new users to the app who had not previously used TikTok. According to data from Sensor Tower, first-time TikTok downloads increased by 28% in October 2021 compared to September, largely driven by interest in the Inverted Filter.
Engagement and usage of TikTok also surged thanks to the viral filter. People spent more time on the app filming and sharing videos with the effect. During the hype, there was a 150% increase in videos using the Inverted Filter compared to other effects. This massive uptick in content creation and sharing led to greater overall usage of TikTok. The app saw higher retention rates as the novelty of the filter kept people opening TikTok daily. By driving new sign-ups and increased engagement, the Inverted Filter had a significant impact on TikTok’s growth and popularity.
Future Applications
The inverted filter technology used on TikTok has intriguing potential applications in other areas like film and television. Some speculate that the inverted filter effect could be adapted to create psychedelic or surreal visual sequences in movies, music videos, and TV shows (https://www.wikihow.com/Inverted-Filter). Using an inverted filter on only parts of the frame could disorient viewers or make certain elements seem out of place in an interesting way. This effect may be well-suited for horror, sci-fi, or experimental films aiming for an unsettling or mind-bending aesthetic.
There is also the possibility of integrating inverted filter tech with augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) headsets (https://www.wikihow.com/Inverted-Filter). Allowing users to switch their field of vision to an inverted view could enable disorienting VR gameplay mechanics or unique AR camera filters. As inverted filter algorithms continue advancing, developers may find creative applications for the tech across various mediums and experiences.
Conclusion
The inverted filter on TikTok provided a unique case study on how simple filters can go viral and spur massive cultural conversation. At first glance it was just a silly effect, but it touched on deeper issues around beauty standards, self-image, and racial bias in algorithms. The filter challenged people’s perceptions of attractiveness and revealed Algorithmic bias in assuming lighter skin is the preferred default. While some felt hurt or offended by the filter, it created space for important discussions that might not have happened otherwise. Content like this exposes our culture’s flaws around inclusion and equality. Overall, the inverted filter phenomenon on TikTok, despite the controversy, drew much needed attention to how algorithms can perpetuate harm even inadvertently. The experience serves as a reminder to reflect on our own biases and create more thoughtful technology.
