The Beauty Myth of Virtual Influencers: A Reflection of Real-World Female Body Image Stereotypes

DOI

10.2991/assehr.k.220704.142How to use a DOI?

Keywords

virtual influencers; body image; beauty myth; simulacra

Abstract

Brands embrace virtual influencers owing to their high degree of controllability and malleability, which is gaining momentum on social media. However, although flawless virtual influencers with great attention may provide considerable commercial advantages to marketers, they may have a detrimental impact on female consumers’ perceptions of their body image. In an attempt to identify further social ramifications linked with virtual influencers, the study conducts a critical analysis of the female virtual influencers’ body image and stereotype depiction. We discover that the immaculate body myth propagated by female virtual influencers is rife with ideals that the female audience cannot accomplish in reality. In the meanwhile, as a depiction of body image, a too perfect anthropomorphic figure in the digital realm may cause female audiences’ concern and distress over their body image. Nevertheless, being a product of the male gaze, the virtual influencer may not be compatible with pluralistic aesthetics.

Copyright

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

Download article (PDF)

TY  - CONF
AU  - Qihang Ji
AU  - Lanlan Linghu
AU  - Fei Qiao
PY  - 2022
DA  - 2022/07/11
TI  - The Beauty Myth of Virtual Influencers: A Reflection of Real-World Female Body Image Stereotypes
BT  - Proceedings of the 2022 3rd International Conference on Mental Health, Education and Human Development (MHEHD 2022)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 784
EP  - 787
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220704.142
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.220704.142
ID  - Ji2022
ER  -