TikTok opens AR effects tool to all users

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

After a closed test last fall, TikTok is rolling out its augmented reality effects tool to all creators and developers.

Effect House allows creators to make their own effects that can be used by other TikTok users. The effects platform will be open to all creators, designers, and developers from around the world, and will include tools and learning resources.

Creative effects empower creators to express themselves, entertain, and share stories through a wide array of engaging and immersive formats.

The submitted effects will be subject to certain guidelines in order to be approved for use. The company says it will prohibit effects that promote colorism or negative stereotypes against protected groups, and effects that encourage scrutiny of someone.

Green Screen is one of the most popular effects in popular TikTok content, and creators often make videos using effects as part of a trend. More than 1.5 billion videos using effects have been viewed.

TikTok is following in the footsteps of other platforms. Over the past several years, similar augmented reality creator tools have been introduced by bothSnapchat andInstagram. Johanna Jaskowska is credited with creating the Beauty3000 filter, which temporarily sparked a trend of glossy, futuristic face effects on the platform.