How Digital Culture Is Reshaping Our Faces and Bodies | Elise Hu | TED
The Impact of the Technological Gaze on Beauty Standards
Introduction to the Technological Gaze
- The speaker shares a personal experience in Taipei, Taiwan, where an attempt to create a TikTok about Cup Noodle was thwarted by unexpected beauty filters that altered their appearance.
- These filters included skin smoothing, lightening, teeth whitening, and more, leading to a phenomenon described as "nonconsensual filtering" or "forced catfishing."
Understanding the Concept of the Technological Gaze
- The term "technological gaze" is introduced as an algorithmically driven perspective that individuals internalize and optimize for.
- An alarming statistic reveals that 80% of 13-year-old girls in America have used filters or editing tools to change their appearance online.
The Influence of Filters on Beauty Standards
- Hyperrealistic AI-generated filters set unrealistic beauty standards, creating a gap between real-life appearances and digital representations.
- The speaker reflects on experiences in Seoul, South Korea—known for its cosmetic surgery culture—where nearly half of women undergo plastic surgery by their 20s.
Societal Expectations and Cosmetic Surgery Trends
- Unique trends like "traptox," which involves Botox injections for aesthetic purposes such as elongating necklines or slimming calves, highlight extreme body augmentation practices.
- In Seoul's society, physical appearance significantly impacts professional opportunities; headshots are mandatory on résumés.
Broader Implications of Beauty Standards
- The discussion extends to fatphobia in the U.S., linking societal pressures around thinness with increased use of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic.
- A warning is issued regarding how digital culture reshapes perceptions of beauty and self-worth under the technological gaze.
Challenging Conventional Beauty Norms
- Concerns are raised about chasing digital beauty ideals leading to unattainable standards; AI's perception of attractiveness becomes increasingly unrealistic.
- A call to action emphasizes celebrating diversity rather than conforming to narrow definitions of beauty; true worth should not be tied solely to looks.
Conclusion: Embracing Authenticity
- The speaker advocates for embracing one's natural appearance instead of succumbing to societal pressures; they express hope that others will feel comfortable doing the same.