Introduction
The TikTok dog filter is a popular augmented reality filter on the TikTok app that shows a user what they would look like as a dog. The filter uses advanced facial mapping technology to transform a person’s facial features into a cute cartoon dog complete with floppy ears, a dog nose, and furry textures. When a user activates the filter, it tracks the movements of their face in real-time to animate the dog features.
The dog filter went viral on TikTok in 2020, garnering over 8 billion views for videos using the hashtag #dogfilter. Its popularity stems from the amusing transformations it creates as well as the cute and silly videos people make using the filter. The dog filter paved the way for many more augmented reality filters on TikTok that transform users into fantasy creatures and animals.
How the Filter Works
The dog vision filter on TikTok uses advanced face mapping technology and augmented reality to transform users’ faces into a dog-like appearance in real time.Effect House allows creators to develop AR effects like the dog filter using tools to map facial features and overlay custom graphics and animations. The filter tracks key points on the user’s face, like their eyes, nose, and mouth, to augment their image with dog ears, snout, and tongue graphics matched to their movements.
Augmented reality filters have become a popular feature on social apps like TikTok and Snapchat. They use a phone or device’s camera to add digital elements into a live view of reality. The dog filter takes this a step further by not just overlaying static images, but actually modifying a person’s facial structure and reactions. This level of advanced face mapping and AR technology allows the filter to respond to users’ expressions and head turns, creating an immersive “dog vision” experience.
Is It Really Dog Vision?
Dogs have eyes that are anatomically very different from human eyes, which leads to some key differences in their vision. According to Belmonte Eye Center (source), dogs have more rods and fewer cones in their retina compared to humans. This allows dogs to detect subtle changes in light better, even in dim conditions. However, it also means they don’t see color as vividly. Pets Doc (source) notes dogs have less binocular vision than humans, which gives them a wider field of view but worse depth perception. Dogs also have lower visual acuity than humans with 20/20 vision.
The TikTok dog vision filter shows a blurry, low contrast view of the world in shades of yellow and blue. This roughly approximates some aspects of dog vision, like the reduced color sensitivity and visual acuity. However, the filter likely overstates the blurriness. While dogs may not have the same sharpness of vision as humans, their vision is adapted to their needs and allows them to function very well. The filter provides a limited simulation, but does not fully represent the capabilities of dog vision.
Expert Opinions
Animal vision experts have weighed in on the accuracy of the viral TikTok dog vision filter. Dr. Jennifer Miele, a veterinary ophthalmologist stated, “While the filter is fun, it likely doesn’t replicate true dog vision.” She explained that dogs don’t see the world in black, white, and blue, but have very different color perception than humans (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/does-my-dog-see-in-color/).
Another canine vision expert, Dr. Sarah Creevy, noted that the filter doesn’t account for some key aspects of dog vision. “Dogs have less visual acuity than people and don’t see color as vividly. But they do see some colors and have a wider field of vision” she said (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/can-dogs-see-color/).
While the TikTok filter provides a simplified illustration of canine vision, experts agree it lacks nuance. But it has sparked interest in better understanding how dogs perceive the world differently through their eyes.
User Reactions
The TikTok dog vision filter has garnered widespread amusement and delight from users trying it on their pets. Many owners find it hilarious to see their dogs’ reactions when their faces transform into another dog or puppy.
Dogs often seem baffled, staring intently at their owners or the phone camera when the filter is enabled. Some pet owners report their dogs becoming anxious, defensive, or even aggressive when seeing the dog face overlay suddenly appear.
“My dog totally freaked out when I tried the filter on him!” one TikTok user wrote. “He started growling and barking at me, like he thought there was another dog in the room. It took him a minute to settle down and realize it was just me.”
Other users mention their dogs appearing mesmerized by their new virtual identity, gazing at their reflection on the screen. “It was so cute to see my pup tilt her head side to side staring at herself with the doggy face and ears,” another commenter shared.
The silly reactions of puzzled pets getting transformed by the filter provoke amusement and laughs aplenty on TikTok. However, some animal experts advise using caution, as dogs may find the filter stressful or upsetting if they can’t comprehend the changes to their appearance.
Possible Downsides
While many find the TikTok dog vision filter entertaining, some experts have raised concerns about its accuracy and potential to spread misinformation about how dogs actually see the world.
According to veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. DJ Haeussler, the filter likely does not realistically portray dog vision (TikTok, 2022). He explains that dogs see fewer colors and have lower visual acuity compared to humans. The filter shows a high level of visual detail and uses a color palette similar to human vision.
This has led some to worry that the viral filter may give people a false understanding of canine eyesight. As veterinary professor Dr. Danielle Gunn-Moore told Newsweek, “The problem is people anthropomorphize dogs too much” (Newsweek, 2023). She cautions that the filter should be considered an artistic interpretation, not an accurate depiction.
While fun, the questionable realism of the TikTok dog vision filter has raised concerns among experts about spreading misconceptions. Responsible use and education may help mitigate any potential downsides.
Educational Uses
The dog vision filter on TikTok can be a fun and engaging way to teach kids about how animal vision differs from human vision. Teachers have used the filter in their classrooms to demonstrate the concept firsthand and get students excited about science and technology. Seeing through “dog eyes” creates a powerful visual that sticks with students more than just reading about the topic in a textbook. The filter shows how dogs see less color and focus more on motion compared to humans, helping kids gain perspective on how other creatures experience the world differently. Videos of kids reacting to the filter often go viral, sparking broader interest in STEM fields. While the filter offers an approximation of canine vision, not an exact replica, it still serves as an accessible educational tool to introduce animal vision in a hands-on, memorable way. Allowing students to try the filter themselves makes the lesson interactive and gets them engaged with technology they already enjoy using. The viral popularity of the dog filter demonstrates how social media effects can grab attention and stimulate learning when utilized creatively in the classroom.
Developer Insights
In an interview with a TikTok developer on Reddit, they discussed their experience interviewing candidates for TikTok and creating the dog filter (https://www.reddit.com/r/csMajors/comments/160ot4a/absolutely_trashed_by_tiktok_interviewer_first/). The developer said the intent behind creating the filter was to provide an entertaining augmented reality effect that users would enjoy. It was not meant to accurately simulate dog vision, but rather create a fun and viral meme. They wanted to leverage TikTok’s AR technology in a novel way that would make people laugh. Though the filter went viral and succeeded in that goal, they did not claim it represented true canine vision. The developer acknowledged it was an exaggerated effect meant for humor and engagement.
The Future
As AR technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more sophisticated animal vision filters in the future. According to Debiprasad Bandopadhyay, AR filters based on computer vision will only get better at transforming human faces into animals in real-time (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/future-ar-computer-vision-what-expect-debiprasad-bandopadhyay).
Some experts believe these kinds of AR filters have educational potential if developed responsibly. As Bandopadhyay points out, the technology behind filters that can transform faces into animal faces can also teach us more about how vision works across species. Developing realistic simulations of animal vision could be useful for nature education and conservation efforts.
However, it’s important that AR developers consider the ethical implications of these kinds of filters and avoid potential issues like data privacy concerns. As AR technology advances, developers should aim to create educational filters that spread awareness and understanding of animals in an ethical, responsible way.
Conclusion
The TikTok dog vision filter has fascinated users and sparked discussions about how dogs actually see the world. This article reviewed how the filter works by detecting faces and applying a color-changing lens. While the filter mimics some aspects of dog vision based on their dichromatic color perception and wider peripheral view, experts agree it is not an exact duplication of how dogs see. The filter provides an approximation to let users briefly experience a dog’s perspective.
While some educational uses are possible, the filter’s accuracy remains unverified. Users should avoid making definitive claims about how dogs see based on this filter alone. The viral popularity of the filter underscores people’s desire to see the world from their pet’s eyes. As for TikTok, they succeeded in creating an engaging effect. However, the discussion over filter accuracy shows the responsibility tech companies have when releasing features involving science and animal abilities. Overall, the dog vision filter provides a novel way to spark curiosity about canine vision, if users view it as an entertaining approximation rather than established fact.