Authenticity

AI headshots are gaining popularity, offering an affordable alternative to professional photography for LinkedIn profiles. Services like InstaHeadshots and Canva enable users to generate polished images by uploading selfies. While a professional-looking headshot enhances visibility and attracts recruiters, concerns arise regarding authenticity and potential deception. Recruiters are wary of artificial-looking images, urging users to maintain a genuine representation. LinkedIn permits AI-enhanced photos, emphasizing likeness accuracy. AI headshot usage is prevalent among younger job seekers, and AI is being leveraged across the entire job application process.

A Chinese gaming streamer, Youchong, faced controversy after discrepancies surfaced between her avatar and real appearance revealed at an awards ceremony. Youchong clarified that the avatar was simply an aesthetic choice and that her appeal lay in her gaming skills, not her looks. This incident sparked debate regarding online personas versus reality and audience expectations in the evolving live-streaming market, highlighting the complex relationship between authenticity and streamer identity.