AI-Generated Conjoined Twins Spark Ethical Debate on Social Media
More than two centuries after Chang and Eng Bunker became the world's first celebrity conjoined twins, the spotlight has shifted to Valeria and Camila, whose appearance, style, and lifestyle could easily feature on an episode of The Kardashians. Unlike the Bunker brothers, who were sold to a circus at birth and spent their lives touring the United States on the freak show circuit of the 1900s, Valeria and Camila face public scrutiny and heckling on social media platforms rather than from behind the bars of a wooden, straw-strewn trailer.
Rapid Rise to Social Media Fame
Since joining Instagram just two months ago, the AI-generated twins have amassed more than 293,000 followers on the platform. It was only recently that the majority of their fans discovered they are not real people but digital creations. The twins, who share a single body, regularly post photos and videos of themselves pouting at the camera, wearing bikinis, and socializing with equally glamorous friends. One photograph even shows them standing outside a pub wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word 'Fetish'.
Valeria and Camila are part of a growing trend of AI-generated models and influencers, which some have described as a 'terrifying glimpse into the future'. However, the fact that they are sexualizing one of the most heartbreaking and feared birth defects in the world cannot be ignored. Beyond the ethical concerns of not initially disclosing that the twins are AI-generated, experts warn that the reality of life as a conjoined twin is a complex experience far removed from public curiosity or social media spectacle.
The Harsh Reality of Conjoined Twins
While some conjoined twins, like Abby and Brittany Hensel, have achieved a degree of normalcy through coordination, their lives are defined by daily physical, logistical, and emotional challenges. Throughout their lives, conjoined twins face severe, complex medical issues, including breathing difficulties, cardiac defects, digestive problems, and musculoskeletal deformities such as scoliosis. They often require multiple subsequent operations to correct orthopaedic, urological, or neurosurgical issues as they grow.
The overall survival rate is low, often cited between five and 25 per cent, with many not surviving the neonatal stage. Lonnie Somers, founder and chair of the Fetal Health Foundation, spoke to the Daily Mail about the serious morbidity challenges faced by conjoined twins, as well as his concerns about the AI influencers. 'Sadly, the morbidity rate is almost 100 per cent, and the mortality rate is 50 per cent within the first few hours of birth,' says Mr Somers. 'Of that, the overall survival rate is around five to 25 per cent. Of those, only about 25 per cent are candidates for separation surgery. It is a very serious condition.'
Historical Context and Medical Advances
Conjoined twins occur when siblings have their skin or internal organs fused. They are identical twins, also called monozygotic twins, which occur when a single fertilised egg splits. In some cases, this process happens late and incompletely, resulting in the twins being conjoined. Just one set of twins in every 40,000 is born connected in some way to each other, and only one per cent of those survive beyond the first year. They are most often joined at the chest, abdomen, or pelvis, with around five per cent joined at the head.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, audiences often paid to gawk at people with anatomical curiosities in circuses and fairs. The Bunker twins capitalised on this peculiar trend, having 21 children between them – a record for the most children born to conjoined twins. Other famous pairs include Daisy and Violet Hilton, who were entertainers in the 20th century, joined at the hip and buttocks.
Advances in modern medicine have meant that conjoined twins are more likely to live into adulthood and have a better quality of life. Advanced 3D imaging and 3D printing of anatomical models allow surgeons to map complex, shared anatomy before surgery, improving accuracy and reducing risks. The use of tissue expanders to create extra skin for covering exposed areas after separation, along with advanced anaesthesia, has improved survival rates.
Ethical Concerns and Expert Opinions
'While I fully support free speech, it is concerning and sad to see these AI conjoined twin influencers,' says Mr Somers. 'It looks to be glamorising and sexualizing a very serious condition that has a high rate of mortality and nearly 100 per cent morbidity. It also incorrectly portrays the real-life struggles of conjoined twin survivors. It is sickening that someone is likely profiting off glamorising a serious physical and medical condition.'
The ethical debate surrounding Valeria and Camila highlights the broader issues of AI-generated content and its impact on public perception of medical conditions. As social media continues to evolve, the line between reality and digital creation becomes increasingly blurred, raising important questions about responsibility, disclosure, and the portrayal of sensitive topics.
