FaceApp Is Back and Creepier Than Ever

It’s the app that has people revisiting their skincare regimens.

Ever wondered what you are going to look like when you are old? While the thought might prove disconcerting for half of the population, it appears the other half cannot wait to find out.

You may have noticed a strange increase in people posting 'old person' selfies on social media. Rest assured, there is nothing in the water. These selfies are just a freakishly realistic product of FaceApp, an app that allows users to upload selfies and apply filters that make them look older or younger. 

Although the app contains gender-swap and glam filters, users are strangely obsessed with the old age feature in particular.

Is it a new thing?

FaceApp has been around before. In fact, it launched back in 2017. Developed by Russian tech company Wireless Lab, the app originally copped criticism for its "Hot" filter, which whitewashed the faces of dark-skinned people. Following the controversy, the function was briefly renamed "Spark" and then removed in April 2017.

Now, updates have made the app more eerily accurate than ever, causing it to go viral once again. Using neural networks, which is a type of artificial intelligence, the results are pretty impressive.

But what makes it stand out from social media giants like Snapchat? Founder and CEO Yaroslav Goncharov told TechCrunch in 2017, "Our main differentiator is photorealism."

"As far as I know, there are no products or research papers that can claim similar quality on this task."

Okay, here are the lols.

We know this is what you came for. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some old people, starting with our favourite Harry Potter characters.

Definitely not young witches and wizards anymore…

Harry Potter and the #FaceApp Challenge pic.twitter.com/jVyKhhSks7

— Professor Snape (@_Snape_) July 16, 2019

Grandmother of dragons, perhaps?

We cannot unsee this.

Keanu Reeves, we are not worthy.

Does not work on the Chosen One #FaceApp pic.twitter.com/vPIB7BGD2i

— laney (@misslaneym) July 17, 2019

Are there privacy concerns?

While everyone has been busy transforming themselves into old people, concerns have emerged surrounding the app’s privacy policy. Software Developer Joshua Nozzi posted a warning on Twitter, stating that the app uploads your photos without asking. According to TechCrunch, it uploads your photo to the cloud for processing, but it is not clear whether FaceApp retains the photos.

BE CAREFUL WITH FACEAPP - the face aging fad app. It immediately uploads your photos without asking, whether you chose one or not. https://t.co/LlqkDpy4ZO

— Joshua Nozzi 🇺🇸👨🏻‍💻 ⚣ (@JoshuaNozzi) July 16, 2019

This is not the first time the app’s privacy policy has been scrutinised. The chair of the Australian Privacy Foundation, David Vaile, had previously spoken to the ABC about the privacy problems in question, saying, "Don't use it."

FaceApp is yet to clarify the issues surrounding their privacy policy and what it means for users.

So, until then, app carefully!

Header Image: Twitter (@AlexJaySINGER, @jonasbrothers, @pinkgoldness)