All the backlash around the viral AI ‘chubby filter’ on TikTok, explained

This week, a new viral trend has been doing the rounds on TikTok that uses AI to change your body shape. 

Using artificial intelligence, the new TikTok AI chubby filter transforms a photo of the user to make them look “chubby”.

Whilst some users have posted using the filter as a joke and for “gym motivation”, many others have responded saying that using it is “damaging” and makes fun of people who have these body types.

Some creators have even slammed participation in new trend as “harmful”, and that slim people using the filter are “fat shaming.”

@demi_jane1

#CapCut if this doesn’t scare me into sticking to the gym I don’t know what will 🤣

♬ original sound – leviemealone🩶

Many users who took part in the trend found it entertaining, captioning the clips with quips like “Us after saying yes to one sweet treat” and “If this doesn’t scare me into sticking to the gym, I don’t know what will.”

Others made jokes about their new appearance using the filter, writing “Never been humbled like this before,” “Me if I don’t lock in at the gym,” and “Every time the girls say ‘I can’t make the gym today,’ I’m gonna tell them we will look like this on the girls’ holiday.”

Some comments included laughing and even sick emojis, adding how the “chubby” body is repulsive.

Responding to one caption that read “the way I burst out laughing”, one viewer questioned: “You burst out laughing? At what? A normal body that lots of women have?”

With 34.8 per cent of TikTok users being made up of 18-24-year-olds, many believe the trend could negatively impact those who struggle with confidence or self image. 

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A large reaction to the TikTok AI chubby filter has been negative, with many comments expressing disappointment in users for taking part. Many people claimed the effect is damaging to those with similar body types, whilst some called out TikTokkers for using it, claiming it to be offensive and insensitive.

One user, @els.shelves, expressed how the trend had negatively affected her, highlighting the mental effects this could also have on people. Els wrote: “I am the chubby filter IRL and I can’t tell you how genuinely soul-destroying it is seeing people use this filter and laughing or being so DISGUSTED by the prospect of being bigger.” 

A number of influencers have also weighed in on the trend, with content creator Corey’s World blasting those who joked about it or found it funny. He said in a video: “I hate anyone who’s used the chubby filter, I’m not sure at what point you thought that would be funny to use but it’s not very nice and I genuinely hope you get fat and you stay fat forever.”

Another creator, Saff, @overfilteredovereaten, used her platform to express her thoughts.

@overfilteredovereaten

The AI chubby filter: It’s not funny or lighthearted and anyone who claims that it is is either naive to the origin of the trend or the aspirations of people using the feature (flattery on being a smaller size/ fat shaming people who aren’t that creators current size) OR they have used the filter for their page and are playing dumb to the comments because it might have given them a few new followers or likes on their profile. Sick. Stop doing it. A morning rant on my top line thoughts because I don’t know WHY my algorithm is pushing this trend on me as a creator who has always spoken out to the opposite effect. #aitrend #chubbytrend #ana #stop #notfunny #recovery #naive

♬ original sound – SaffsStuff

She captioned the video: “The AI chubby filter: It’s not funny or lighthearted and anyone who claims that it is is either naive to the origin of the trend or the aspirations of people using the feature (flattery on being a smaller size/ fat shaming people who aren’t that creators current size) OR they have used the filter for their page and are playing dumb to the comments because it might have given them a few new followers or likes on their profile.

“Sick. Stop doing it.”

Saff described the trend as “being part of a bigger problem of diet culture and heroin chic.”

She added: “Honestly, I don’t even know why my algorithm is pushing it, I think it’s because I keep commenting for people to stop doing the trend.

“Just please stop. It shouldn’t have been a thing in the first place.”

Amelia Hartley also took to social media to call an end to the trend, asking “Can we actually be real for a second?”

She added: “This ai chubby filter trend has to stop. Why are we making it a trend?”

Featured image via TikTok @itsemilyyy, @overfilteredovereaten @sadiebass16