What Is The 'Liberalize Yourself' Filter And Why Was It Removed From TikTok? The Controversial Filter Explained

Over the past week, some controversial conservative X / Twitter users, including the likes of Libs of TikTok and Gavin McInnes, have gone viral for sharing the results of using TikTok's viral Liberalize Yourself filter. Now, the filter has been removed from the app and some people are wondering why. Here's what we know.

What Is The 'Liberalize Yourself' Filter?

The Liberalize Yourself filter started going viral on TikTok around May 4th, 2024. The filter essentially takes a user's face and applies it to one of several base images of real-life people who have been deemed by the filter's creator to resemble typical liberals, specifically playing off of stereotypical attributes associated with social justice warriors, such as colorful hair.

These stereotypes have persisted within online and offline right-wing circles for years, so it's no surprise that online conservatives were quick to embrace the filter. In the days following its virality, several conservative voices on X, most notably Gavin McInnes and Libs of TikTok, posted examples of the results that come from using the filter, garnering thousands of likes and interactions and helping spread the filter across social media.

Why Was The 'Liberalize Yourself' Filter Removed From TikTok?

Following the filter's brief virality, it was seemingly removed from TikTok. Several users across X and TikTok have commented that the filter is no longer available to them, including Chaya Raichik, the woman behind the Libs of TikTok account, writing in a post with over 1,400 likes, "It appears tiktok has removed the filter. I just went to try it and it’s gone!"

It's unclear why the filter was removed from TikTok and representatives from the app have not made any statements on its removal. One possible reason is that the filter purportedly applies users' faces to images of real people who may not have consented to their use in the filter. Another reason could be that the filter is technically seen as bullying by TikTok's terms of service. Again, though, there is no official reason for the filter's removal.

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For the full history of the Liberalize Yourself filter, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.