With the rise of Meta glasses over the past few years, a new kind of content creator has emerged, centering their content on filming people without their knowledge or consent. What does this mean for the future of personal privacy?
According to CNBC, Meta sold more than 7 million pairs of glasses in 2025, up from 3 million the previous year, and the company is projected to sell millions more this year. This summer, Meta also announced a new line of glasses in collaboration with socialite and businesswoman Kylie Jenner in an effort to appeal to female consumers. That amounts to millions of people with discreet filming technology, roughly equivalent to every person in New York City owning a pair, and then some.
Technically, Meta glasses include a built-in security precaution that informs the public when someone is filming: a small indicator light on the side of the glasses. However, this safeguard becomes ineffective when users cover the light with tape or remove it altogether.
As a result, concerns about privacy have grown. Frankly, being filmed and posted online without your knowledge is invasive and unsettling.
Women, in particular, seem to be targeted by these creators. According to an article by Wired, women have reported being filmed without their knowledge during first dates. In addition, some “content creators” have gone so far as to harass people for reaction-based content.
A growing number of content creators, some of whom call themselves “pick-up artists,” center their content around hitting on unsuspecting women in public.
TikTok videos show men wearing Meta glasses approaching groups of women at malls and other public places, with captions like “He can’t take no as an answer,” —seemingly making a mockery of asking for consent.
Women are not the only ones being targeted. Some creators intentionally provoke service workers, creating situations where they receive “bad service.” Then they post these interactions online, potentially damaging employees’ reputations and putting their jobs at risk.
These so-called “pranks” often involve pushing employees into uncomfortable interactions for the sake of entertainment. In one Instagram video, for example, a creator opens a package before paying for it, seemingly to provoke a reaction from the employee.
Regardless of the type of content, the underlying issue remains the same: privacy. No one expects a one-off interaction to become a permanent part of their digital footprint.
However, Meta glasses are not inherently problematic. They can be used without violating others’ privacy when users ask for consent before or at the start of filming.
I have used Meta glasses after borrowing a pair from a friend. The pictures were high quality and helped avoid the awkward angles that often come with taking group photos. My friend has also worn the glasses to parties without any problems because she always announces or asks when taking pictures or videos.
Through this experience, it becomes clear that the issue surrounding Meta glasses is consent. When people know they are being recorded and agree to it, the technology can feel exciting and innovative. However, when people aren’t aware that they have been filmed and later see a video of themselves online, that same technology can make them feel violated.
The conversation becomes more complicated because filming in public spaces is generally legal. However, there is a clear difference between someone visibly filming with a camera or phone and someone using the hidden camera in Meta glasses.
These concerns have contributed to the development of ZuckOff, a free app created by a Polish developer that notifies users when Meta glasses or similar smart glasses are nearby.
Meta glasses and other smart glasses allow users to take photos, record videos and search the web without ever having to take out their phones. This is where apps like ZuckOff step in, letting innocent bystanders decide what happens to their privacy.
Ultimately, privacy concerns have led Meta to reconsider the product altogether. Meta has banned Instagram accounts that post content harassing women.
According to The Guardian, Meta has also announced new glasses without a camera or recording feature. These camera-free glasses better highlight the positive aspects of Meta glasses that are usually overshadowed by the camera functions.
Meta’s central selling point for its glasses’ is convenience. Meta promotes the glasses with the tagline, “Your hands are free, your mind is present.” The glasses are designed to display messages and notifications, provide hands-free navigation and offer assistance through Meta AI.
The glasses also include accessibility features, such as the in-ear feature, “Be My Eyes” mode, which uses Meta AI to describe a user’s surroundings and support the visually impaired.
However, despite these alternative functions, the camera remains a major part of the product’s appeal. Meta’s continued development of camera-equipped models including the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, with improvements such as longer battery life, demonstrates the company’s ongoing investment in recording capabilities. Meta is simply promoting the new camera-less glasses and quietly taking down unfavorable videos and accounts in an effort to protect their reputation.
Kaitlyn Campeau is a writer for The Setonian’s Opinion section. She can be reached at kaitlyn.campeau@student.shu.edu.
