"Hug my younger self” trend makes deepfaking easier

The “hug my younger self” trend on social media spreads a necessary message of self-love and compassion. However, it also puts users' precious biometric data at risk.

The trend involves using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like Gemini's Nano Banana to generate an image of a person embracing their childhood self.

The polaroid-like images are often accompanied by heartwarming messages about self-love and growth, as well as experts' warnings about data privacy.

While concerns about tech companies potentially mishandling sensitive data aren't new, experts say uploading childhood photos may come with extra risks.

Childhood photos may help make deepfakes

David Tomasian, CEO and founder of Curious, says giving large language models (LLMs) access to your childhood photos means giving away biometric data you can't reclaim.

Biometrics are unique physical or behavioral characteristics used for identification and verification, such as fingerprints, facial geometry, and even gait.

"Childhood photos, in particular, link identity across time. This makes it easier to track, profile, or replicate faces through deepfakes," Tomasian tells Cybernews.

Deepfakes are an increasing concern globally, and the boom of generative AI makes it easier for bad actors to create them. Deepfake files surged from 500,000 in 2023 to a projected eight million in 2025, according to a Keepnet Labs report.

Combining deepfake photos and videos with voice cloning allows cybercriminals to impersonate victims to steal money.

Childhood photos, in particular, link identity across time. This makes it easier to track, profile, or replicate faces through deepfakes.

David Tomasian

AI-generated deepfakes can also be used to create revenge pornography. An investigation in 2024 revealed that nearly 4,000 celebrities, including pop star Taylor Swift, fell victim to deepfake pornography.

Aaron Rose, a data security and privacy expert at Check Point, says terms of service – which few people actually read – often grant broad licenses to use uploads for training LLMs or commercial purposes.

"That can mean repurposing your family photos for profiling or targeted advertising without a clear path to deletion," he tells Cybernews.

Moreover, comparing childhood and current photos allows models to infer sensitive traits, such as health, socioeconomic changes, and even longevity proxies, far beyond a user's intent.

Chris Sprague, CEO at Leapfrog Technology Inc., says if you decide to take part in the viral "hug my younger self" trend, stick to tools from trusted providers like Google, Anthropic, or Canva that clearly state they don't use customer data to train models.

"Make sure the content you upload is your own and you have the right to use it. Never upload photos of others without their consent," Sprague says.

Material for facial recognition systems

Tomasian says when users upload old and new photos, they provide a time-lapse dataset of human aging. This is extremely valuable to facial recognition systems, as it helps learn how faces evolve, improving age progression, matching, and emotional inference.

Facial recognition technology is a contentious issue. Law enforcement agencies in the US and across the globe use tools like ClearviewAI, and their success stories include catching violent criminals after identifying them on social networks.

At the same time, there are well-documented cases of wrongful arrests due to overreliance on facial recognition tools or the technology enforcing racial biases. Authoritarian states like Russia have used facial recognition systems to hunt down protestors and draft dodgers.

There is also the concern of ending privacy as we know it. If the technology becomes widely available, a stranger who takes a photo of us in public places may get access to our digital footprint.

Nevertheless, the global facial recognition market is expected to reach $12.67 billion by 2028, up from $5.01 billion in 2021.

Paving the way to beneficial technologies

Tech companies can use our sensitive data to develop less controversial technologies.

Rose says AI photo albums and "synthetic memories" can help older adults recall and discuss life events.

A 2024 study suggests that the GoodTimes app, an interactive AI-based photo album created to engage with users about their pictures, benefits older adults by invoking pleasant memories and aiding in recollecting loved ones.

Rose tells Cybernews, "Privacy by design is essential to avoid confusion or misuse."