Akinyi Obala, a 30-year-old lifestyle influencer based in Phoenix, recently tried out TikTok’s hyper-realistic aging effect out of curiosity. To her surprise, the effect made her look much older than she expected. This viral trend, known as Aged, is just one of many age-related filters that have gained popularity on TikTok this year. What makes Aged stand out is its use of Artificial Intelligence to predict users’ future appearance. Through sharing their transformed faces, Americans are revealing their fascination with youthfulness and their underlying fears of aging. Even those who accept the inevitability of aging admit to considering injectables like Botox to combat wrinkles.
The Aged filter has become so widespread that even celebrities like Kylie Jenner have given it a try. Jenner’s mixed reactions, initially disliking the older version but later finding it cute, demonstrate the irresistible curiosity of glimpsing into one’s AI-predicted future. Experts suggest that Americans, in particular, are afraid of aging due to societal pressures linked to achievement, success, and a constant drive for progress. This fear of growing old has been ingrained in American culture for centuries, but it has been intensified by the concept of “successful and healthy aging” that emerged in the mid-20th century.
Despite these deep-rooted fears, people are still eager to see their older selves. They are drawn to it out of a desire to be prepared and because their appearance is intertwined with their sense of self. For instance, beauty content creator Tatyana Latafa, who is not scared of aging, received mixed reactions when she tried the Aged effect. While some viewers expressed their intention to undergo plastic surgery like her, others criticized her for promoting unrealistic beauty and aging standards. Regardless, TikTok benefits from the engagement generated by these age-related effects.
New York-based fashion and beauty influencer Jamie Stone agrees that Americans are obsessed with aging, especially younger generations uncomfortable with the idea of growing old. TikTok capitalizes on this obsession by releasing age-related effects that play into the American fixation on youth. By keeping users engaged and interacting through these effects, the platform achieves its goal. TikTok declined to comment on its intentions behind these effects.
Creators and experts acknowledge that age-related effects may tap into people’s vulnerabilities regarding aging. However, these experiences also provide users with a visual representation of their future selves, which they wouldn’t have otherwise. Many users find the effect emotional, particularly when sharing it with their parents, as it offers a unique perspective on aging. Some users appreciate the effect for helping them confront the reality of aging head-on.
Monica Kieu, a facial plastic surgeon, praises the realistic nature of the Aged effect and how accurately it follows the aging process. She believes the effect’s virality stems from its ability to manipulate the universal human fear of aging and mortality, serving as a reminder of our shared humanity.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
