12 Aug Viralpocalypse
Viralpocalypse by Christopher Keast Sasha and I snap selfies after school. “Let’s post one to Defame,” she says. I haven’t used the new app much. It was the latest thing. “How does it work again?” “You make a post, then find someone to flick. The app transfers their face onto yours. Then everyone thinks it’s them.” “But they’ll know it’s not.” Sasha shrugs and nods, holding up her smartphone. I admire her grace as she poses for each picture. Her eyelashes flutter over her hazel eyes. The breeze blows her strawberry blonde hair. Her curves seem in perfect alignment. I try to follow along, letting her flair complement my blandness. She grabs me and pulls my lips to hers. Snap. We giggle in front of the camera, lip-locked. “Now we flick.” I raise an eyebrow. “How does it alter your face?” “Some auto-deepfake thing. It’s easy.” She shows me the flick reel of little, bright, dancing squares with people’s profiles overlaid. I stare unfocused into the screen. It’s mesmerizing. “Do you have Brit on there?” “Not yet. You can only flick your followers. I do have Luke and Preston.” Sasha taps my face on the screen and selects Luke as a flick, then selects Preston for hers. “Flicked!” My heart skips a beat watching Luke...
