Content creators are facing a flood of negative comments and losing followers for using Meta's smartglasses, which have been dubbed 'pervert glasses' over privacy and surveillance concerns. The glasses can record video while being worn, leading to fears they are used to film people, especially women, without consent.
Backlash and apologies
Oliver Hooson, a home design and cycling enthusiast with 224,000 Instagram followers, posted a video of himself making coffee during the Tour de France finale. He was shocked by comments like 'PERV' and 'Out here pushing creep glasses.' Hooson says he lost 'a good 50 to 100' followers after the post. He supports the backlash, calling the term 'pervert glasses' a 'defence mechanism' to dissuade use.
Some creators have apologized for promoting the glasses. Rida Tharana, with 1.6 million Instagram followers, 'took accountability' for a Meta campaign, criticizing men who misuse the glasses to 'record and harass women.'
Privacy concerns and incidents
The backlash peaked after Kylie Jenner collaborated with Meta to launch a pair. Self-described pickup artists have used the glasses to film women without their knowledge. One woman told the BBC a man recorded her and demanded money to remove videos. Another described being recorded during sexual encounters. Police in Scotland investigated a far-right TikToker who allegedly made sexualised comments to young women.
Meta says the glasses have a flashing LED light to indicate recording, but multiple people have complained they were filmed without knowing. Restaurants, theatres, and pubs in the UK, including Wetherspoons, have banned the glasses over privacy fears.
Creators' experiences
Deena Lang, a parenting influencer, wore the glasses to a cooking class and was 'horrified' by people's reactions. She posted footage with faces blurred as a 'cautionary tale' to her 110,000 followers. She says the negatives 'far outweigh the positives' and the glasses are now 'in a drawer.'
Meta sold 7 million pairs in 2025. A Meta spokesperson said: 'We designed our AI glasses with privacy and safety features built in from the start – informed by engagement with safety experts, including women's safety organisations. Our glasses have always had an LED light that activates whenever someone captures a photo or video for their gallery.'
