Smart glasses with cameras are increasingly seen as disturbing for Generation Z. The young generation feels these gadgets could easily be infringing on privacy and consent, despite the technology companies suggesting they are fashionable, hands-free devices to capture moments in life.
The backlash began with a viral TikTok video capturing a customer at the Manhattan European Wax Center seeing her aesthetician sporting the Meta smart glasses. Even though the employee asserted the device was turned off, the video went deep and revived the age-old anxiety of whether daily interactions are recorded covertly without explicit consent.
Having clocked more than 10 million views, a niche TikTok account run by Vanessa Orozco highlights concerns over surreptitious recording in customer service environments. While Meta’s AI safeguards, such as the recording indicator light and a sensor that will signal it when the light is being blocked, are allegedly in place, they are still undergoing review. Critics maintain that these safeguards are far too easily evaded, particularly given how online tutorials disseminate methods to block or switch them off.
Gen Z has grown wary of unnoticed monitoring and developed an interest in the topic of privacy in general. Researchers say the refusal is suggestive of a generational shift. Having grown up in the age of digital visibility, Gen Z is perhaps more cocooned with privacy than its preceding generation. They are clear about how their online presence, with posts liked and pictures tagged, can affect their personal life should time be considered for employment opportunities.
It is thus with this intent that this generation strives to control what goes up online, and Kaplan’s review of shows is a direct contradiction of their hard-earned freedom. Despite the concerns, the demand for smart glasses is great. Meta’s Ray-Bans will probably sell 4 million units by the end of the year, up from 1.2 million in 2024.
