By now, you've seen it. Millenials in droves have transformed themselves into old hoots on the internet. Why? Because that's what we do! We follow what's trending, and during the middle of the week, the FaceApp was the talk of the internet. A hashtag even ensued: #AgeChallenge.
I won't lie, I was excited about it. An app that can age you, add facial hair, change your hair color, or make you look super polished? Of course I hopped on the band wagon! As you can see, I transformed myself into a very attractive, very stylish, cougar-lookin grandma (chest and all). If I ever grow old without any prospects for marriage, just know, this is the picture I'm using for my Tindr profile when I finally do get up there in age.
And it was fun! Turning yourself into someone in the 80+ club and sending it to your friends or posting it online for laughs was the main event of the week on the internet. Let's face it: those of us who did it wanted to see if we'll still look good when we've grown old and wrinkly some 40+ years from now. It sure was fun while it lasted.
Why did the fad stop so quickly, you ask? Because it was revealed that the FaceApp isn't just some innocent app that changes your appearance; it's really app created in Russia to collect our info and secure images of our faces. It was literally created to collect data and intel from Americans. Oh, and best believe I have receipts.
Look, I see how that's far fetched, right? Why would programers in our (fr)enemy country create something entertaining and useful to collect our data? Well I don't know if you've been watching the news lately, but it's actually right on brand with our relationship with Russia. They (and also we) have done some pretty slimy things to each other to get as much info as possible to use for our own political gain or monetary advancement. What is privacy any, right?
Needless to say I believe the hype, and I too, am freaking out.
I hate the idea of the government (or anyone for that matter) having too much access to me. Keeping data that includes my personal info, pictures, location, habits, schedule, and so on makes me extremely uneasy. This country is at a terrifying place in history. I mean, it's practically an SNL skit playing out in real time, only there are real repercussions to the things that are happening (hate groups on the rise, Black folks gunned down daily, kids locked in cages at the boarder, Muslim ban, on and on and on). So the fact that this app now has my information makes me extremely uneasy.
But it's not just the FaceApp. It's everything we come in contact with, and sometimes, even the things we don't.
Now, those of you who speak to me often know that I love my podcasts, and one of my favorites is The Friend Zone Podcast. It's hosted by three, Black 30-somethings who come from different walks of life but who currently live in NYC. They talk about everything from mental wellness, pop culture, music, and their own personal lives. And y'all, they called this whole thing! One of their recent episodes entitled "Deepfake Software" talked about how collecting our data and info is on the rise, especially with apps that mirror the FaceApp.
Look. I say all of this to say that I'm lowkey terrified that this is going on, and it's really triggered my anxiety. I'm anxious about getting on social media (even though I do), putting my card and bank info into my phone for payment (still do it), or even talking near my phone (because they're listening). They (the folks who invented these machines and the folks who use them to get what they want from me) are always listening in to figure out what I'm buying, what I want or need, where I'm going, etc. (this is real y'all, I wish I were joking).
So yea, I'm terrified. I hate feeling this way. So I've decided to do something about it.
Instead of letting this fear and anxiety consume me, I'm doing what I can to keep my info safe and keep my peace in tact. Here's what I'm doing to put my mind at ease:
1. Internet = The Real World
People love to say "it's just the internet". No, it's really not. There are real people, real concepts, real dangers and alleyways and backdoors that exist on the internet. Things can go left real quick. We see it every day. People start beef on the internet and then take it to the streets. They spew hatred and xenophobia and we end up with The Orange One for president. For this reason, I take the internet seriously. I watch how I move, what I say, who I give my attention to, and block/report when necessary. Harassment, hacking, and bots are real; this ain't for play-play. So handle with care and log on at your own risk. Or, Just Log Off. *shrug*
2. Practice Healthy (Internet) Habits
I put "internet" in parentheses because healthy habits actually start offline. I talk about this a bit in my last blog post "Just Log Off". I've started to come up with strategies for how I deal with the internet and technology in general that makes me feel like I'm taking back and maintaining my own power and agency on the web. I've started with my phone. I've created a second home screen on my phone where all my social media apps reside. That way, social media isn't the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning or the first thing I go to when I'm bored. Instead of social media on my home screen, I replaced this space with games like sudoku and word puzzles, apps that focus on mental health like Headspace, and apps that focus on my physical health like Apple's Health app. Even apps that help regulate my cycle and gynecological health such as MyFlo, and of course The Bible App to focus on my faith. Having these apps on my home screen give me immediate access to other ways I can spend my time besides on social media or other platforms. Yes, my data is still being shared, and no I can't change this, but at least it's being used to directly benefit me and my life instead of through scrolling the timeline for hours on end.
3. Be Don't Let *It* Consume You
No matter what it is. The internet, the apps, and even the fear that comes with thinking about what's happening to our personal information. These things are very real, but allowing ourselves space and time to deal with these things as they come can help us feel like we're in the driver's seat. And as the person in my driver's seat, I get to decide where I go, how fast or slow, when to make a u-turn and go the other way, and when to power through and go for it. I could be consumed with worry about the possibility of getting into a crash or caught in a storm or encountering crazy, rode-raged drivers. Or, I could just drive where I wanna go, watch my speed, and enjoy the journey. That is up to me.
This is much bigger than us as individuals; this is how our society is set up now. We can no longer live without technology, AI (advanced intelligence), electronic systems—all of Western culture has subscribed to the age of electronics. We can't always control what happens with this, or who takes what from us, but we can control what we do.We can cut back on the apps to limit the probability of entities like Russian bots or American AI getting a hold of our info. We can be mindful as we browse the web, and still have great experiences while remaining mindful of what's going on with what, and with whom. We can continue to live our lives happily—though we know there are things happening that we may not approve of—and focus on moving in ways that we would approve of. We can do our best to take a swing at these things while also remaining true to ourselves, protecting our peace, and growing along the way. I've already begun my pursuit to manage these things and more. If you haven't already, it wouldn't kill you to do the same. *shrug*
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