Why is TikTok the favorite selfie app on iPhone?

While there’s nothing wrong with all the controls available in the native iPhone Camera app, people rarely use it to take selfies. Instead, many have turned to TikTok for selfies, and here’s why.

1. TikTok does not auto-edit selfies

The iPhone's front camera isn't substandard, but there is one drawback that comes with post-processing after you take a selfie.

While you’ll look great in the Camera app’s preview, Apple’s Camera app automatically edits your photos after you’ve clicked them. But the problem is that the app doesn’t do a great job of it. Instead of improving your photos with small edits, the final selfies look washed out, with textures and details that are too obvious, making the images feel over-processed.

This is due to a feature built into the Camera app called Deep Fusion, which automatically enhances photos. While there are some workarounds you can try to stop your iPhone from automatically enhancing photos, there’s no way to turn Deep Fusion off completely. That leaves you with two options—either accept the processed images or take matters into your own hands by using a third-party camera app.

As mentioned earlier, the app of choice for many is TikTok, mainly because it doesn’t automatically edit selfies. TikTok takes photos as is, allowing you to keep all the original details without any unwanted changes. If you want to edit your selfies after you’ve taken them, use one of your favorite third-party photo editing apps .

2. More control over the flash

Lighting plays a big role in selfies, and it can have a big impact on the final result. In the stock Camera app, the flash only appears when you press the shutter button—right when you take the photo. In TikTok, however, you can turn on the flash before you press the button, which makes the lighting look more natural.

While the flash still shines directly on your face in both the Camera app and TikTok, turning on the flash first will give you a better preview of your final selfie.

Sometimes, photos look terrible with a flash and you only realize it after you take the photo. And if you take hundreds of selfies at once, you might realize it too late. By turning on the flash before you take the photo, you can adjust your position or lighting conditions to ensure you get a better photo, saving you time and energy.

3. Zoom front camera

When trying to take the perfect selfie, you may often find yourself zooming in and out to get the ideal frame. One thing users really dislike about the stock Camera app is that it zooms out by default, with limited flexibility when zooming.

The only real zoom control is the expand icon that appears on iPhones with ultra-wide front-facing cameras, which isn't ideal. Most third-party apps, like TikTok, give you more control, allowing you to zoom in even further and frame the shot exactly the way you want.

4. Natural beauty options and lenses

Snapchat lenses can completely change your skin tone, slim your face in unnatural ways, and hide any flaws on your face. That’s not to say you shouldn’t use beauty options or filters in your photos. The only problem is when they go overboard.

However, TikTok strikes the perfect balance when it comes to lenses. They don’t look too unnatural or completely change your facial structure, but they still accentuate your features just enough to boost your confidence. This way, you can still look the same while still adding a touch of glamour to your selfies.

If you don't want to use the app's lens, you can tap the person icon to create the perfect look manually.

The best part about this feature is that you have complete control over every detail - face size, skin smoothing level, teeth whiteness, etc.

Using a natural filter like this saves you the hassle of editing your photos later while still ensuring that you don't look like you're trying to trick someone or set unrealistic beauty standards.

You might think it's weird to use TikTok, an entertainment app, to take selfies. But try it! You might just love it.