Smart glasses are back, and this time, Gen Z isn’t buying the hype.
Smart glasses meet Gen Z resistance
While companies like Meta push smart eyewear as the next big thing, young adults are pushing back hard. Gen Z users, in particular, are voicing deep concern about the idea of being filmed without consent. The sleek design and hands-free appeal aren’t enough to outweigh the sense that privacy is slipping out of reach.
These worries boiled over earlier this month when a TikTok user spotted her wax center aesthetician wearing Meta Ray-Bans. Though the employee claimed the glasses were off, the video went viral and lit a match. Suddenly, videos questioning the ethics of smart glasses were everywhere.
Viral moments trigger backlash over smart glasses
One clip from creator Vanessa Orozco, expressing unease about being unknowingly filmed by workers, pulled in over 10 million views. Most viewers agreed: it’s creepy, not cool.
The backlash isn’t just social, it’s cultural. Smart glasses may feel like a throwback to Google Glass, but today’s versions have more tech, better cameras, and are landing in a different climate. Gen Z has grown up knowing how fast a video can ruin reputations or wreck opportunities.
Why this generation won’t ignore surveillance risks
Gen Z’s approach to privacy is different. Many grew up watching their older siblings overshare online, and they’ve learned to be cautious. Before posting, they consider future employers, college boards, or online trolls. That mindset makes a secret recording feel like a major breach.
Common worries include:
- Being filmed during vulnerable moments
- Losing control over digital identity
- Videos spreading without context or consent
- Manipulated footage appearing online
- Public moments are becoming permanent content
These aren’t paranoid hypotheticals; they’re realistic fears in an always-connected world.
Smart glasses safeguards aren’t winning trust
Meta claims its Ray-Bans use a warning light during recording and include sensors to detect tampering. But online tutorials already show how to bypass those features. And while Meta says disabling the light breaks its user agreement, skeptics aren’t convinced that policy stops misuse.
Opal Nelson, a 22-year-old in New York, said a blinking light isn’t enough. “If someone wants to record you, they will,” she told The Washington Post. “And you’ll never know until it’s already online.”
Smart glasses are still selling, but not without friction
Despite growing backlash, Meta’s smart glasses are projected to sell four million units in 2025. IDC analysts say that’s more than triple last year’s total. But the tech world’s next wearable hit might come at the cost of trust, and Gen Z isn’t handing that over easily.
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