Privacy concerns for community members have emerged after multiple influencers have been using Meta Glasses to film content for social media in Tuscaloosa, including on University property.

Meta Glasses are produced by technology company Meta Platforms Inc., previously known as the Facebook company. The glasses feature the ability to to take pictures and record completely hands-free and are marketed on the Meta website as a way to “stay in the moment” while still recording.

Among the influencers who have filmed and posted content using Meta glasses in Tuscaloosa are “GloBoiDave” and “drizockk.” Neither content creator responded to multiple requests for a comment.

Their respective content usually consists of street interviews where they approach women and ask them questions or try out different pick-up lines, sometimes on the Strip, the Student Center and businesses in Tuscaloosa. Together, they have a combined 365.9k followers and their videos regularly reach millions of views on TikTok.

According to April Sanders, manager of UA Student Center facilities operations, filming in the Student Center is not prohibited but does require a permit to be submitted and approved beforehand.

Drizockk posted a video of Alyssa Casby, a freshman majoring in news media, outside of Paty Hall. According to Casby, he did not disclose he was filming her during their interaction. She said this left her feeling “blindsided” when the video was eventually posted.

“It was just really weird, because I didn’t know anything about him recording,” Casby said. “Although I don’t mind being put in the public eye, I want it to be done where I have a little bit more control over what happens.”

According to Casby, she was also posted by GloBoiDave shortly after her interaction with drizockk. She said she reached out to him to ask him to take the video down but was “completely ignored.”

“At first it was a friendly video that I just wanted to get taken down, now it feels like it’s becoming a little bit more,” Casby said. “I’m all for making content that is relatable or funny to my peers/generation but when are we able to draw the line and say ‘ok maybe we don’t want to invade her privacy.’”

Ariel Goynes, a senior pre-vet major at Mississippi State University, was also posted by GloBoiDave on TikTok in September in a video captioned “Pov: Went to Starbucks and ordered Yams.” 

Goynes said she was visiting Tuscaloosa on vacation with her family when she and her sister were approached by two men in the Starbucks inside of Target on 13th Ave. She said GloBoiDave asked for her Instagram username, which she gave to him because she “didn’t want any confrontation” while on vacation. 

Goynes said she was unaware she had been filmed and posted online until The Crimson White reached out.

“It is actually quite unsettling knowing that the information is out on the internet for anyone to see and obtain,” Goynes said. “As a single woman who lives alone, people being aware of what college I attend, what my plans were, and also involving my little sister, is upsetting because that is not information I would freely place on a public platform.”