TikTok beauty filters to only be available for those over 18

TikTok is introducing age restrictions to its beauty filters and has announced that the effects will soon only be available to those over the age of 18.

The video platform has joined a number of social media sites, including WhatsApp and Instagram, to announce measures to create safer online spaces for children.

These include stricter age verification, the training of moderators to review suspected underage accounts, and an age limit on who can use some appearance-altering effects.

Beauty filters will soon only be available to adult users - a step taken in response to concerns raised about how they may impact children's mental health and body image.

Youth development manager at BodyWhys, Dr Fiona Flynn, has welcomed the move, but says more is needed.

"It's a step in the right direction. What it also does is maybe the news and publicity will also encourage parents to think about the way that their child interacts with social media," she said.

The new rules will not affect filters which are created to be obvious and funny, including those which feature the likes of animal ears.

A report, commissioned by TikTok, found many people had concerns about the less obvious effects, and how those viewing the content might not realise it had been altered.

Head of education and innovation at CyberSafeKids, Philip Arneill, said the app's response to these findings is positive.

"We look at these things online and we wonder: 'Why is my life not like that?' So, you know, if we're feeling that as adults, that's going to be even impactful on children and young people," he said.

In further efforts to improve safety and mental health protection, TikTok will connect people to local helplines and provide expert support when reporting material on the app, with the help of Spunout.