World News for Students of English

03-04-2025 07:00

TikTok recently removed a filter that used AI to make people appear chubbier after criticism for promoting body shaming.

The filter allowed users to see themselves looking heavier, while a similar filter made people appear thinner. This led to videos with captions promoting weight loss and gym culture. Critics argue that these filters feed into young people’s obsession with body image and unrealistic beauty standards. Although the chubby filter has been deleted, the skinny filter remains. TikTok has been criticized for not doing enough to tackle content promoting unhealthy weight loss. The trend of skinny talk encourages extreme weight loss and disordered eating, which some say is harmful to viewers.

TikTok states they have taken steps to remove harmful content, but experts suggest more work is needed. Social media platforms like TikTok have a strong influence on how people perceive beauty, and the constant bombardment of these standards affects young users, often causing anxiety about their appearance.

Difficult words: chubby (slightly overweight), body shaming (criticizing or mocking someone’s body type), obsession (the control of your thoughts by still the same idea, image, or feeling), bombardment (a continuous attack or overwhelming of something).

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