Have You Tried It?

The #faceapp challenge is the latest viral trend taking over your newsfeed.

Everybody is using this photo app to transform themselves into their older selves and it’s a little bit odd and interesting at the same time.

“The free-to-download app uploads your photo to a remote server that uses artificial intelligence to predict your future appearance. It can also make several adjustments to your appearance, such as adding a smile or some hair.”

When I did it, and saw my picture, my first reaction was surprise.  I couldn’t believe how much I looked like my Aunt Shirley and Nana – who have both passed away now. The eyes, eyebrows, the wrinkles – all brought back memories of family.

How weird.

Have you done it?  What are your thoughts?  Aside from the fear that Russians are using our embarrassment to steal our private information, what else are you thinking about this new trend?

I’m surprised just how quickly it’s spread and how many people are doing it.  I mean, I don’t see any kids doing it. Just us already “old folks”.  And celebrities are jumping in too.

The Jonas Brothers –

Sam Smith

Gordon Ramsey

And Drake used his picture to give away concert tickets.

It’s a strange feeling to look at yourself like you might look years later.  It makes you wonder, what life will look like. Maybe I should start wearing lipstick? A scarf? (smile)

And I have to say, the pictures of the guys looking older seem to be much more flattering than MY old lady picture – (smile).

And as silly as it might be, experts warn the viral trend could put your personal privacy at risk.

“You grant FaceApp a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully-paid, transferable sub-licensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform and display your User Content and any name, username or likeness provided in connection with your User Content in all media formats and channels now known or later developed, without compensation to you,” the terms of service say.

In other words, FaceApp can do whatever it wants with your photos and your username, including using them to make money through advertising until the end of time. It also means that FaceApp can advertise using the face of any celebrity who uploaded his or her photo to the app.

User beware.

If someone wants to use this wrinkly face have at it.  I will be deleting it immediately.  (ha)

French cyersecurity expert Robert Baptiste tweeted Wednesday ”

“They upload only the photo you are working on.”

“For now there is no reason to panic, Russia is not trying to steal people’s faces,”

Awwww… (smile)

Categorised in: Afternoons

This post was written by Carrie Buchanan