Abstract
Augmented Reality (AR) has found practical applications on popular visual social media platforms where users can apply beauty filters to enhance their appearance. This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the motivations behind the use of beauty filters by young women in the Tunisian context, where presence on social networks follows global trends. Based on theories of uses and gratifications and self-presentation, we conducted a qualitative study using a triangulation of online observation, semi-structured interviews, and projective techniques. Results reveal nine motivations: Enhancing facial features, enhancing photo’s quality, convenience, purchase decision, self-confidence, social influence, attention seeking, entertainment, pass time and curiosity.
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Appendices
Appendix
Appendix 1: Consumers’ Interview Profiles
Name | Age | Occupation | Phone brand |
---|---|---|---|
Participant 1 | 24 | Marketing manager | Oppo A73 |
Participant 2 | 21 | Student | Samsung Galaxy A50 |
Participant 3 | 24 | Freelance designer | IPhone 12 |
Participant 4 | 18 | Student | Samsung A20s |
Participant 5 | 20 | Student | IPhone 7 |
Participant 6 | 23 | Translator | IPhone 6 |
Participant 7 | 18 | Student | IPhone 7+ |
Participant 8 | 20 | Student | IPhone 12 |
Participant 9 | 24 | Company employee | Samsung A8+ |
Participant 10 | 26 | Business owner | Samsung A50 |
Participant 11 | 24 | Accounting employee | Oppo A31 |
Participant 12 | 23 | Student | IPhone X |
Participant 13 | 23 | Administrative assistant | IPhone 12 Pro Max |
Participant 14 | 18 | Student | Samsung Grand Prime Plus |
Participant 15 | 21 | Student | IPhone 10 |
Participant 16 | 23 | Student | Samsung Galaxy A10s |
Appendix 2: Most Commonly Used Words Representing Motivations Among Female Respondents
Motivations | Aesthetic | Utilitarian | Psycho-social | Hedonic | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Related words | Skin | 187 | Colors | 88 | No self-acceptance | 74 | Curiosity | 46 |
Acnes / pimples | 64 | Lighting | 86 | Self-confidence | 47 | Fun | 34 | |
Flaws | 60 | Likes and comments | 28 | Entertainment | 17 | |||
Imperfections | 27 | Influencers | 26 | |||||
Dark circles | 24 | Friends | 22 | |||||
Soft skin | 21 | Boyfriend / Guy | 15 | |||||
Fear of judgement | 14 |
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Lakhal, A., Montacer, N., Smaoui, F. (2025). ‘Why Embrace Augmented Reality Beauty Filters?’: Delving into Young Women’s Motivations. In: Bach Tobji, M.A., Jallouli, R., Sadok, H., Lajfari, K., Mafamane, D., Mahboub, H. (eds) Digital Economy. Emerging Technologies and Business Innovation. ICDEc 2024. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 531. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76368-7_6
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