Last week, Meta’s announcement about using public posts on Facebook and Instagram for AI model training (but European users can opt-out) has sparked dissatisfaction among many users who are seeking alternatives. One such response is Cara, a social media platform for sharing images, which has gained over 500,000 new members in the past week alone.
Cara is not a new app, having been launched since January last year, but it gained significant traction only in the past week. Even co-founder Jingna Zhang, a photographer and artist, expressed surprise at the sudden surge in users, totaling from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand.
The format of the Cara platform combines portfolio works and social feeds, but what has drawn many creators to migrate is the Anti-AI policy, which prohibits posting AI-generated images. Cara claims to have a detection and removal system in place for these images, as well as tagging all uploaded images to prevent external developers from using them to train AI models. Other features include customizable main feeds and self-defined image thumbnails.
Currently, Cara does not have a business model and operates solely on a volunteer basis led by Zhang, relying on donations to enhance platform service. Zhang’s personal motivation for creating Cara stems from the belief that if big companies do not protect us, we must build our own homes. He is currently involved in a lawsuit against Google for copyright infringement in using his works for AI training, having previously won a case in the Lac Seybel Court on copyright infringement in creating similar-looking drawings from his photographs.
TLDR: Cara, a social media platform gaining popularity, focuses on user privacy by implementing an Anti-AI policy, attracting creators with customizable features and a community-driven approach. Co-founder Jingna Zhang’s personal mission underscores the importance of self-protection in the digital landscape.
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