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Library/Trend & aesthetic/FaceApp aging challenge
Grade B24 sourcesHIS-00155

FaceApp aging challenge

Trend & aesthetic · 2019 · Notable

50Editable slideCertificate

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

Original · @fahadalaliwa (earliest known example)
‎فهد العليوة‎ on Instagram: "challenge accepted! 😅 #agechallenge"
‎فهد العليوة‎ on Instagram
'The View' co-hosts take part in FaceApp Challenge and the results are hilarious!
ABC News / The View
'FaceApp' Raises Security Concerns
TIME
LeBron old
NBC Sports
An age-filtered photograph shown in ABC News’s July 2019 FaceApp coverage.
ABC News / Good Morning America

Spread Score

How it works
Reach45Contagion45Breadth80Velocity65Longevity1250

Numbers

#FaceAppChallenge Instagram posts, Captiv8 lower bound
180K
As of Jul 30, 2019 · Instagram · Self-reported · Captiv8
Seed to peak
5 days
Jul 12 ’19 to Jul 17 ’19
Platforms
9
Started on Instagram
Origin
Mixed
Technology

Mechanics

  • Shareable outputPrimary
  • Challenge
  • Platform jump
  • Controversy
  • Press loop

How it spread

Trace the origin

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.

Google searchesJun ’19JulAugSepOctNovDecPeakInstagramRedditXPressApp storesOpen webTVGroup chatsRetail
InstagramRedditXPressApp storesOpen webTVGroup chatsRetail

14 more events on this chart

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Timeline (17)

  1. June 2019

    FaceApp precursor · Jun 2019

    FaceApp ran Facebook and Instagram ads in early June, Apptica reported.[1]

    ‎فهد العليوة‎ on Instagram: "challenge accepted! 😅 #agechallenge"
    Open the first post ↗

  2. July 2019

    @fahadalaliwa seed · Jul 12 ’19

    @fahadalaliwa posted the earliest known #agechallenge example documented by Know Your Meme.[2][3]

  3. gymbez platform jump · Jul 13 ’19

    gymbez posted a photograph of their toddler with the age filter on Reddit.[3]

Changelogupdated Oct 12 ’26
  1. 2026-10-12Added: 16 events, 21 sources · Score 54
Origin
Mixed
Sector
Technology
Region
Global
#FaceAppChallenge Instagram posts, Captiv8 lower bound
180K
As of Jul 30, 2019 · Instagram · Self-reported · Captiv8
Evidence
Grade B

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ChatGPT Ghibli portraits

X · 2025

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this was a real labor of love from @gabeeegoooh. congrats gabe; excellent work! here is what we generated during the livestream:

The Great Lock In of 2025

TikTok · 2025

58
gng went into 2026 on a generational run i swear🤞🏼 #fyp #typeshyt #shmeat27

12.8K derivatives

EPIK AI Yearbook

App stores · 2023

53
How I wish this was my college yearbook creative photos 😅 #photodumps #yearbookAIphotos #AI #epikapp #yearbooktrend #fyp #viral

Peaked at #1

New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.

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Google searchesJun ’19JulAugSepOctNovDecPeakInstagramRedditXPressApp storesOpen webTVGroup chatsRetail
InstagramRedditXPressApp storesOpen webTVGroup chatsRetail

14 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. June 2019

    FaceApp precursor · Jun 2019

    FaceApp ran Facebook and Instagram ads in early June, Apptica reported.[1]

    ‎فهد العليوة‎ on Instagram: "challenge accepted! 😅 #agechallenge"
    Open the first post ↗

  2. July 2019

    @fahadalaliwa seed · Jul 12 ’19

    @fahadalaliwa posted the earliest known #agechallenge example documented by Know Your Meme.[2][3]

  3. gymbez platform jump · Jul 13 ’19

    gymbez posted a photograph of their toddler with the age filter on Reddit.[3]

  1. platform jump · Jul 13 ’19

  2. press · Jul 16 ’19

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Why it worked

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