AI-generated models raise concerns over body image and mental health

The increasing prevalence of AI-generated models in social media and advertising is raising concerns regarding their impact on body image and mental health, particularly among young people.

Mia Perumal, a 19-year-old Cardiff University student and eating disorder survivor, warns that AI-generated content creates unattainable beauty standards that are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality. She notes that while some argue the technology is clearly artificial, eating disorders do not respond to rationality, making the psychological impact significant. Perumal has observed a rise in highly idealized, thin AI figures on social platforms, often prompting young users to seek unrealistic physical transformations.

Marketing professional Kelly Watts expressed similar concerns, noting the difficulty in identifying AI content in business imagery due to a lack of labeling. She highlighted the risk of children comparing themselves to these ‘perfect’ but non-existent digital figures.