If you’re a TikTok user, you may have tried searching for specific filters like “puppy face” or “beauty mode” only to find that the option to search filters doesn’t exist. TikTok currently does not allow users to search for filters directly. There are a few reasons behind this limitation:
TikTok wants to encourage discovery through the For You page
One of the pillars of TikTok is its algorithmic For You page that surfaces videos based on your interests and engagement. TikTok purposefully makes it difficult to search for specific things so that users spend more time discovering new content and accounts through the For You page. If users could easily search for filters, they may bypass the For You page altogether.
Searching filters could enable questionable use cases
Some users, especially teens, may search for beauty filters to hide perceived flaws or catfishing filters to misrepresent themselves. Allowing filter searches could facilitate this behavior that TikTok wants to avoid promoting. TikTok likely weighs this risk against the benefits of enabling filter search.
The number of filters is massive and constantly growing
There are hundreds of thousands of filters in TikTok created by users and influencers. New filters get added daily. Maintaining a search index on this scale is technically challenging and expensive. TikTok may not want to invest resources into indexing filters when it doesn’t align with their recommendation-first strategy.
Filter names can be arbitrary or duplicated
Unlike hashtags which have naming conventions, filter names can be random strings like “puppyface767” or generic words like “beauty mode” that are duplicated across filters. Searching through filters with unclear names or duplicates would result in a poor user experience.
TikTok wants to push sponsored branded filters
TikTok makes money by getting brands to pay for sponsored filters that promote products or campaigns. Enabling filter search may result in users only looking for non-sponsored filters from individuals. TikTok likely keeps search limited so sponsored filters get more implicit visibility.
How to find filters without search on TikTok
While you can’t explicitly search for filters, there are some ways to find filters on TikTok:
- Check the filters used in videos on your For You page. You can often find new filters in videos TikTok recommends.
- Look through the filters used by your favorite creators in their videos. This is a good way to find filters tied to specific influencers.
- Scroll through the “Effects” tab when posting a new video. The first few rows often highlight trending or sponsored filters.
- Click on the filter name when you see a video using a filter you want. This will take you to a page showing that filter and related effects.
- Use relevant hashtags like #puppyfacefilter or #beautyfilters to find videos using filters you’re looking for.
Why TikTok should consider adding filter search
While a dedicated filter search feature goes against some of TikTok’s current priorities, there are benefits to providing it:
- It improves the user experience by making filters more discoverable.
- Users are already searching for filters on Google and YouTube, redirecting them to TikTok.
- It helps creators find the right filters for their content goals.
- Users can more easily find filters tied to specific moments or trends.
- It helps new users learn what filters are available to enrich their videos.
TikTok would need to carefully design the search interface and algorithm to promote discovery and minimize risks. But overall, adding filter search makes TikTok more intuitive and user-friendly.
Workarounds for searching filters on TikTok
Until TikTok introduces native filter search, here are some workarounds:
- Use Google search operators like “site:tiktok.com” and filter names to find videos using that filter.
- Search on YouTube using “tiktok filter” and filter names to find compilation videos.
- Use third-party websites that index TikTok filters like TikTokSearch.com and TiktokFilter.com to search effects.
- Install third-party apps like TikTok Search that allow saving and searching through filters.
- Use the TikTok API to programmatically search for filters if you have developer experience.
While limited, these methods enable some level of filter search outside the TikTok app. Power users leverage these techniques to grow their following and get ahead of trends.
The future of filter search on TikTok
It’s likely that TikTok will eventually add native filter search capabilities as it continues to evolve its features. This would align with user expectations as search becomes a standard requirement in any robust platform. When implemented, TikTok will need to design the feature thoughtfully keeping in mind:
- Ranking algorithms that promote variety and originality over engagement bait.
- Moderation for inappropriate or misleading filter names and effects.
- Curation of featured filters that align with community guidelines.
- Proper attribution to give creators credit for their filters.
Filter search on TikTok may start out very basic only indexing certain approved effects. But over time, the feature could grow into a powerful discovery tool opening up new creative possibilities for users.
In summary, the inability to search for filters on TikTok stems from its algorithm-first strategy but introduces friction for users. As TikTok evolves, filter search will likely be added to meet demand. In the meantime, workarounds provide some options for power users to find specific effects. But for most users, the best way to discover new filters is still through TikTok’s recommendation engine.
