# FaceApp aging challenge

> Captiv8 reported over 180,000 Instagram posts tagged #FaceAppChallenge.

- Owner: FaceApp
- Kind: Trend & aesthetic
- Sector: Technology
- Seed date: 2019-07-12
- Peak date: 2019-07-17
- Spread Score: 50 (Notable), v1.2
- Mechanics: Shareable output, Challenge, Platform jump, Controversy, Press loop

## Summary

FaceApp ran paid ads before users shared aging selfies on Instagram, Twitter and Reddit. Captiv8 reported over 180,000 challenge posts. TV hosts and brands joined in; Lakmé shipped skincare gifts, while privacy coverage prompted a federal review request.

## Timeline

- Jun 2019 — FaceApp (Instagram) — FaceApp ran Facebook and Instagram ads in early June, Apptica reported.
- 2019-07-12 — @fahadalaliwa (Instagram) — @fahadalaliwa posted the earliest known #agechallenge example documented by Know Your Meme.
- 2019-07-13 — gymbez (Reddit) — gymbez posted a photograph of their toddler with the age filter on Reddit.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/faceapp-aging-challenge

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “FaceApp aging challenge.” Case HIS-00155. Spread Score v1.2: 50/100. Updated 2026-10-13. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00155