The FaceApp #AgeChallenge is taking off on social media around the world, with everyone from sporting champions to Hollywood stars transforming photographs of themselves to appear older.
Commenting on the trend, George McNamara, Director of Policy at Independent Age, said:
“The #AgeChallenge certainly seems to have struck a chord around the world, with millions of people having fun seeing what they might look like in 40 or 50 years.
“But while this app focusses on the outward transformation of someone getting older, it’s easy to forget about the transformation of circumstances that can come with ageing.
“Ageing is more than just a physical process – it can significantly change our social circumstances, or how financially secure we feel.
“Our research has found that 41% of older people aged over 75 say they feel lonelier now than they did when they were younger[1], while nearly two million pensioners live in poverty. The government needs to put more resources into improving these circumstances, so that people can keep their quality of life as they get older.”
[1]‘One-third of older people say feelings of loneliness are out of their control’, Independent Age, 2016.