Two days ago, I got a call from a friend who asked me to check a WhatsApp message. It was a picture that did not look like her, and I realised it was made using AI tools. I thought it must be some old heroine from Malayalam cinema, so I left it at that. Then she called me again to ask about the picture, and I saw that the picture was also being used as her DP.
She asked me, “Did you check the picture?”
I said yes. The photo looked like Asha Sarath, an actress from Malayalam cinema.
She suddenly got angry and said, “No, she is not Asha Sarath. In fact, I do not like her. How can you compare me with Asha?”
She became an angry bird. I gulped.
“No, no, I just said that. I do not think this girl looks like her. Must be an old actress…”
I tried to escape from the mess.
She continued, “What a man you are… It is me. Not some actor. And I do not think you have any idea about the new trend on social media. This is an 80s trend.”
And she continued, “It is basically how people looked in the 80s, and making our pictures in that trend. Anyway, how do I look?”
I was speechless. But I reacted.
“Yeah, it looks so nice. You are gorgeous.”
She was happy, and I kept my phone down, holding my breath.
Anyway, I am completely unaware of all those trends. I keep away from them. Later, I came to know that it is a new feed triggered by social media marketing people to enhance the views.
By then, a few more messages popped up on my mobile. Two or three more people asked about their 80s look. I replied to most of them.
“Yeah, it is quite good looking,” blah blah…
I was blending in.
I was just thinking, the way things are moving, why are people so crazy about these things? Instead of putting up and seeing their own photos, why do they wish to make themselves look different through AI tools? Why are people not happy with their own looks and pictures?
Many people are editing their own pictures to look better on social media. What type of logic is that?
Maybe there is no logic.
So, people are fantasising more on social media and in its comment box. How they look in real life is not a matter.
In recent days, I was surprised to see more 80s looks on WhatsApp profiles and the so called status updates. Most people have updated their looks on WhatsApp. Interestingly, most of the pictures looked the same.
I felt very sad about the new trend, not because of their looks, but because even people who fought against social media and big business tycoons are falling into the foolishness of the social media trap.
In fact, most people are wearing blue jeans and jackets, cool glasses, and many of them were not even born in the 80s. They are also falling into this trend.
But obviously, we think Gen Z will take over any new trend that comes on social media and ChatGPT. But in this case, it was not Gen Z that took over the trend. It was the guys in the 30 and above age group.
Nobody had a second thought about it.
I agree this is just for fun. But when we lose our sense of fun, it becomes pathetic.
In the 80s, jeans and jackets were not common, and if ChatGPT had a little brain, it could not have made everyone follow the same dress code. It could have chosen the trend of that time or the people who wore clothes then.
When ChatGPT and other AI tools came up, we, the same people who were concerned about this and its monopoly over our brains, have completely surrendered now.
It is really sad, but we are helpless.
I expect criticism for this blog, like people saying, “Why do you not take this as fun? There is no need to take everything so seriously,” and so on.
I agree with them.
But I am asking everyone to think before doing anything that social media or ChatGPT suggests. It is nothing less than their marketing strategy.
By the way, most welcome for the criticism.
At least let people work their brains on it….