AI beauty filters drive widespread facial alteration via algorithms

Artificial Intelligence-powered beauty filters are becoming a widespread and normalized practice on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Apps such as FaceApp have achieved significant reach, with single platforms surpassing 200 million downloads.

These tools utilize computer vision to detect facial features and overlay a digital mesh. This allows the software to alter physical characteristics, such as slimming the nose, enlarging eyes, or smoothing skin, based on algorithmic aesthetic rules.

This phenomenon has led to clinical concerns. British doctor Tijion Esho has used the term ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’ to describe the impact of these digital alterations on perception. A 2021 study in the United States indicated that 80% of girls under the age of 13 had used some form of filter or retouching app to modify their appearance.