Why You Should Think Twice Before Using AI Self-Portrait Apps

Filters and self-portrait apps have come a long way. You can now make yourself look like practically anything, or even just a dream version of yourself with 'perfect' hair, skin, and facial features. Just a little harmless digital fun, right??

Unfortunately, AI portrait apps like?Lensa?prey on this thinking and hope you don't notice the fine print before you download: these apps track your phone activity and collect your data not only in the app itself but across websites and apps owned by other companies. This is definitely something you need to avoid, so here's what you need to do to protect yourself:

Don't Immediately Jump on Every Fad

The easiest answer is to avoid downloading these apps right away, as a lot of them are short-lived fads that don't have staying power. That can be tough when you want to join in on the fun, so if you do decide to download an AI portrait app make sure you do your research.?

Read the App's Terms & Conditions

Make sure you read the app's terms & conditions as closely as possible. You are often giving up more data privacy rights than you realize. This includes giving an app the ability to track just about everything you do on your device. Be aware of what’s at risk before you download a new app.

Restrict Data Collection

If you don't see any glaring red flags there and decide to download the app, make sure you restrict its data collection. You can do this by turning off data sharing in your phone's privacy & security section, and for certain apps like Lensa you can even?contact them directly?and ask that they delete your data from their servers.

The more apps you use, the more complicated data privacy can get. Data privacy is something that can definitely seem overwhelming, but if you follow these steps to protect yourself you can jump in on the fun without the worry.