In the digital age, social media has revolutionised how we interact and perceive ourselves. While these platforms enable new ways to connect, they also introduce psychological complexities, particularly for teenagers who are still developing their self-identity.
A rising challenge is the emergence of AI influencers—digital avatars powered by artificial intelligence—that shape perceptions of beauty, success, and identity. It’s crucial to reflect on how these AI influencers impact young people’s self-esteem, body image, and mental health, especially in relation to unrealistic beauty standards and the erosion of authentic self-worth.
The prevalence of social media and its psychological impact
The National Young Mental Health Study in Singapore highlights correlations between social media use and mental health (Singapore Health Institute, 2024). The study found that 27% of individuals aged 15-30 who spend over three hours a day on social media, had a higher risk for extreme to severely extreme depression (1.5 times), anxiety (1.3 times), and stress (1.6 times).
More concerning, those with body image concerns were 2.6 times more likely to have experienced cyberbullying and more likely to have severe or extremely severe depression (4.9 times), anxiety (4.3 times) and stress (4.5 times).
These findings demonstrate the significant role social media plays in influencing mental health, especially in terms of body image.
The role of AI influencers in perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards
AI influencers are digital avatars created by artificial intelligence to engage with audiences. These avatars project an idealised version of beauty, success, and lifestyle through technologies like deepfake, image manipulation, and language learning software.
Unlike traditional influencers, AI avatars are not limited by physical reality and can embody any aesthetic, often aligning with current trends or marketing goals. AI influencers used for sales perpetuate the concept of pretty privilege—the believed societal bias that those who fit conventional beauty standards are rewarded.
By showcasing flawless digital appearances, AI avatars reinforce the idea that beauty is synonymous with success. Veldhuis and colleagues (2020) showed that self-objectification (where an individual’s worth is determined by their physical appearance) correlates with low self-esteem and a greater tendency to alter one’s image using photo-editing apps or filters. This process is also described within Cash (2008) cognitive behavioural model of body image.
By presenting an unattainable ideal, AI influencers reinforce self-objectification, pushing young people to alter their self-image to reflect digital perfection.
Reflection Time: Is Beauty What Truly Matters?
What qualities do you value in your best friend?
Is it their kindness, humour, or trustworthiness? More often than not, the qualities that form the basis of deep and lasting relationships are non-physical.
The impact of indistinguishable AI influencers
In 1970, psychologist Masahiro Mori coined the term “uncanny valley”, explaining that people feel discomfort when robots appear almost human but not quite. Today’s deepfake technology, however, blurs the line between digital avatars and real people.
A study by Pocol et al. (2024) found that only 61% of participants could identify deepfake images, suggesting that AI-generated avatars appear convincingly real. This makes it easier for young people to internalise these avatars as achievable beauty standards, leading to body dissatisfaction and increased pressure to conform to unrealistic ideals.
Reflection Time: Whose Ideal Body Image, Anyway?
The “Get Real Barbie” project by the South Shore Eating Disorders Collaborative (SSEDC), which compares the body proportions of a Barbie doll with those of a real-life, healthy 19-year-old.
If Barbie was portioned up, she would not be able to stand up straight, menstruate and would need to forgo some of her intestines.
If you are shocked by this news, this shows how easy it is to accept idealised images as realistic when they are in fact not. This project shows how distorted and unrealistic Barbie’s figure is, showcasing that the ideals promoted by dolls and AI avatars are both unhealthy and unattainable.
Addressing these issues together
We can play a vital role in helping teens navigate the pressures created by AI influencers and unrealistic beauty standards. Here are several strategies:
Promote media literacy
Teach teens about AI influencers and the digital manipulation behind them. Help them understand that these avatars represent an idealised version of beauty and should not define their self-worth.
Challenge pretty privilege
Help adolescents recognise that beauty is subjective, and societal beauty standards are narrow and unattainable. Encourage them to appreciate diversity and recognise that self-worth extends beyond looks.
Talk about unhealthy and unrealistic ideals
Research shows that when women and girls talk about appearance ideals, it can relieve their sense of pressure to conform, and their body satisfaction can improve. The Body Project is a group intervention for high school and college girls to challenge the body image ideals, and it has been shown to reduce body image dissatisfaction, negative mood and unhealthy dieting and disordered eating.
Balance the bias
Encourage exposure to a variety of body types and images to counter the bias formed by repeated exposure to digitally perfect standards.
Encourage authenticity
Guide teens in exploring their values, passions, and inner qualities. Help them understand that true connection is built on authenticity, not physical appearance.
Foster self-compassion
Teach teens the importance of self-compassion and self-acceptance. Emphasise that imperfections are part of what makes them unique and should be embraced rather than erased to conform to external ideals.
AI influencers represent a new layer of complexity in the digital world, presenting beauty ideals that are unrealistic and often unattainable. These digital avatars are likely to exacerbate body image issues, contribute to feelings of inadequacy, and negatively affect mental health in teenagers.
By promoting media literacy, encouraging authenticity, challenging pretty privilege, and fostering self-compassion, we can all help young people navigate the impact of AI influencers. Empowering teens to value themselves for who they are, rather than how they look, can foster healthier relationships with themselves and the digital world around them.
Written by: Dr Marie-Claire Reville, Principal Psychologist
References
Becker, C. B., & Stice, E. (2017). From efficacy to effectiveness to broad implementation: Evolution of the Body Project. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 85(8), 767–782. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000204
Cash, T. F. (2008). The body image workbook: An 8-step program for learning to like your looks. New Harbinger Publications.
Mori, M. (1970). The uncanny valley. Energy, 7(4), 33–35.
Pocol, C., Vermeer, L., & Gonzalez, F. (2024). The ability to distinguish deepfake images from authentic ones: A study on human perception. Journal of Cognitive Technology, 18(2), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.1002/jct.2024.18.2
South Shore Eating Disorders Collaborative. (n.d.). Get real Barbie. South Shore Eating Disorders Collaborative. https://www.chapman.edu/students/health-and-safety/psychological-counseling/_files/eating-disorder-files/13-barbie-facts.pdf
Singapore Mental Health Study. (Singapore Health Institute, 2024). National young mental health study: The impact of social media on youth. Singapore Health Institute.
Veldhuis, J., Alleva, J. M., Bij de Vaate, A. J. D. (N.), Keijer, M., & Konijn, E. A. (2020). Me, my selfie, and I: The relations between selfie behaviors, body image, self-objectification, and self-esteem in young women. Psychology of Popular Media, 9(1), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000206