The viral 80s photo editing trend on social media has attracted the attention of Madanayakanahalli Police, who warn the public about cyber fraud through fake applications, suspicious links and unverified online services. Social media users are advised to be cautious when trying to turn their pictures into retro-style images on online platforms, police said.
The 80s-inspired photo trend has been on the rise on social media recently, where people use artificial intelligence tools, photo editing apps and online sites to give their photos a vintage look. Edited photos are often composed to mimic the look, hairstyles, colours and visual style of photographs from the 1980s.
Many of these applications and services may be legitimate, but police have noted that cybercriminals can also take advantage of popular Internet trends to target innocent users. Fraudsters may create fake applications or send suspicious links through which users are promised fast and attractive photo-editing results.
According to Madanayakanahalli Police, users should be especially careful before downloading an unfamiliar application simply because it is being promoted as a tool for creating viral 80s-style photographs. So if the application is unverified, a device is at risk, and it will have unwanted access to personal information, depending on the permissions that the application requests.
Also, users are advised not to click on suspicious links received by social media messages, WhatsApp groups, SMS, or other online connections. Cybercriminals frequently use trending topics at a certain point in time to get users to go to a website for free and/or fake websites, so they can go to a fake site to collect personal information or get users to download malware software.
Fraudsters may ask users to give up personal information to create or edit photographs, police said. People should be wary if an editing service asks for information that is not necessary for its stated purpose.
In particular, users should never share passwords, banking details, PINs, OTPs or other sensitive information with unknown persons or unverified applications. Real photo-editing services generally do not require users to disclose confidential banking credentials or account passwords simply to create an edited photograph.
The warning is particularly important when people trust online services when they see a trend being widely discussed on social media. A large number of users participating in a trend does not necessarily mean that every application or link associated with it is safe.
Cybercriminals can take advantage of this trust by creating fake websites that mimic popular apps or by circulating fake advertisements. They can then send people to the web, where they can be directed to sites that ask for personal details, downloads or unnecessary permissions, and once they click on them, they’ll be pulled to user-facing pages for a few downloads or even to the website to get their personal information, if they’re not in the right place.
Madanayakanahalli Police have therefore advised people to verify the credibility of applications or websites before using them. Users should only download applications from trusted and official app stores and thoroughly check the developer information, reviews and permissions asked for by the application.
People should also avoid granting unnecessary permissions. A photo-editing application might require access to photographs for its main function, but users should question requests for unrelated access to contacts, messages, call logs, microphone, or other sensitive device information.
सोशल मीडिया पर इन दिनों आर्टिफिशियल इंटेलिजेंस (AI) की मदद से खुद को 1980 के दशक के रेट्रो लुक में बदलने का '80s AI फोटो ट्रेंड' तेजी से वायरल हो रहा है, जिसे लेकर पुलिस और साइबर एक्सपर्ट्स ने गंभीर सुरक्षा चेतावनी जारी की है.
— Nedrick News (@nedricknews) September 11, 2026
- UPPolice के पुलिसकर्मी इरशाद सरवर ने वीडियो जारी… pic.twitter.com/t3en3PG7V9
Another important precaution is to keep smartphones and applications updated. Security updates can help protect devices against known vulnerabilities. Users should also use strong and unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Beware of 80s Trending Photos: 80ರ ಟ್ರೆಂಡಿಂಗ್ ಫೋಟೋ ಎಡಿಟಿಂಗ್ನಿಂದ ಮೋಸ ಮಾಡಬಹುದು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆ#Tv9Kannada #80sPhotoTrend #TrendingPhotos #PhotoEditing #CyberFraud #CyberCrime #PoliceWarning #CyberSecurity #OnlineFraud #DataPrivacy #CyberAlert #InternetSafety… pic.twitter.com/uhrkAU833m
— TV9 Kannada (@tv9kannada) September 12, 2026
The police warning comes as social media trends are changing fast. New photo filters, AI-generated images, celebrity-inspired edits and retro-photo trends can become popular in a matter of days. Cybercriminals monitor such trends because they provide an opportunity to reach a large audience quickly.
Social media users should not be encouraged to let curiosity or the desire to participate in a viral trend override basic cybersecurity precautions. Before clicking a link, downloading an application or uploading a picture, users should ask whether the platform is trustworthy and whether the requested permissions are actually necessary.
The latest advisory from Madanayakanahalli Police is an example of how cybersecurity is key even on seemingly harmless entertainment services. A photo-editing trend may appear to be just like a harmless online game, but an unsafe application or suspicious link could potentially put personal information at risk.
Those who encounter suspicious websites, applications or messages should avoid interacting with them and report them through appropriate cybercrime channels. If someone believes they have become a victim of online financial fraud, they should report the incident immediately through the official cybercrime reporting mechanisms and contact their bank or financial institution without delay.
As the 80s photo trend continues to spread on social media, police have stressed that they need to keep them safe and to use the public’s social media well and not share personal information with people they don’t know. The basic message is: verify before downloading, think before you click and never share sensitive information with strangers or unverified apps.
