Common Sense Media Review
By Christy Matte
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Easy-to-use deepfake generator with eerie results.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Impressions: Face Swap Videos
What's It About?
IMPRESSIONS: FACE SWAP VIDEOS allows kids to imagine themselves as someone else, to practice their celebrity impressions, or just to be silly. Kids start by choosing a celebrity image. At the time of the review there were 12 options, ranging from blasts from the past like younger versions of Michael J. Fox, Jennifer Aniston, and Tom Cruise to more current favorites like Jennifer Lawrence, Emilia Clark (as Daenerys Targaryen), and Voldemort. Kids then record a 10 second clip (20 seconds for premium users). The service processes the video, which can easily take 5 minutes or more, and returns a disturbingly accurate blended video. Users can share or save videos to the device. A free account includes three free video credits, plus one additional credit each week. Users can purchase more credits or subscribe for $4.99 for five credits a week.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fun way for kids to try out their acting chops with some of their favorite celebrity likenesses, but it's also important for them to understand the more serious impacts of deepfakes. Impressions: Face Swap Videos capitalizes on a new obsession with deepfake content, or images and video that are so heavily doctored that you can't trust your own eyes. From a greater world view, it's a bit disturbing in terms of trusting news and evidence, but it does make for a neat party trick. The app is simple to use without a lot of distractions. It just does what it's meant to do. They are actively adding new content to keep things fresh. As such, the biggest drawback is the cost of additional credits starting at $1.99 for just one 20 second video. But with three free credits to start with, kids may get their fill before trying to dip into their digital allowance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can use Impressions: Face Swap Videos to start a discussion about deepfakes. What are they? How can you tell if a video you're watching is real or just technology at work? Does this change how you feel about news stories about famous people? Why or why not?
Talk about celebrity and why certain people's faces are included. What celebrity face would you like to do a video with? Why?
How do you like this app in comparison with other apps you could play? As you balance your time on- and off-screen, would this be an app you'd choose to use? Why or why not?
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Pricing structure : Free ($4.99/week for premium features)
- Release date : February 15, 2020
- Genre : Entertainment
- Publisher : Synthesized Media, Inc.
- Version : 1.3
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 11.0 or later
- Last updated : April 15, 2020
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