Ghostface AI Trend is receiving huge attention. The primary reason for this is that it has successfully lowered the threshold for user-generated content (UGC) to almost zero and triggered a viral spread effect. The core of this trend is to allow users to generate a personalized short video of the classic horror character Ghostface, which is about 15 seconds long, within 60 seconds by simply uploading a portrait photo. According to data from social media monitoring platforms, within 30 days after the trend broke out, the total number of videos generated under the related topic tags exceeded 95 million, with a total play count exceeding 7 billion times. The number of independent users participating in the creation reached 120 million. The marginal cost of content production was almost negligible, but a single popular video could achieve an average of 500,000 exposures.
From the perspective of technical accessibility, the sudden popularity of Ghostface AI Trend is attributed to the perfect combination of the powerful computing power of its artificial intelligence model and the extremely simple operation process behind it. Unlike the early AI generation tools that required high-performance graphics cards and complex parameter adjustments, this trend relies on a cloud-based AI platform with model parameters as high as 100 billion, yet it can achieve real-time rendering at 30 frames per second on ordinary smartphones through optimized algorithms. Users only need to click three times to complete the creation. This experience of encapsulating cutting-edge technology as “one-click access” has made the penetration rate of this trend as high as 35% among users aged 18 to 24, far exceeding the average penetration rate of 12% of other similar AI filters.
The explosive growth of this trend also stems from its ingenious integration of meme culture and the attributes of social currency. Each user-generated Ghostface video is not a simple copy. Instead, it is infused with unique personal expressions and micro-movements through AI technology, creating an unexpected contrast of cuteness and humor in the terrifying classic images. Data analysis shows that videos with the tag “#MyGhostfaceChallenge” have a share rate (i.e., the ratio of forwards to views) that is eight times that of the median ordinary video. A social survey involving 5,000 users revealed that over 65% of the participants believed that sharing their Ghostface AI videos was an efficient way to engage with the current most popular online culture and gain social recognition, with the psychological benefits far exceeding the time cost spent.
The business model innovation of Ghostface AI Trend has also attracted extensive attention from the industry. The developers of this trend achieved over 2 million US dollars in revenue in the first month of its launch through built-in non-intrusive advertisements and revenue-sharing cooperation with classic horror film ips. The return on investment (ROI) is expected to be as high as 400%. More importantly, it has successfully transformed a short-term hot topic into a sustainable platform ecosystem. Data shows that approximately 30% of users who generated Ghostface videos continued to use other AI special effects features of the platform in the following week, and the user retention rate was significantly higher than the industry average. This efficient traffic conversion and commercial potential is precisely the key reason why Ghostface AI Trend is not only regarded as a cultural phenomenon but also as a successful technological application case.