MasterCard To Use 'Selfies' For Payment Method

As if this generation isn't quite social media-obsessed enough, MasterCard is taking it a step further. Shoppers will soon be able to pay for some of their purchases by simply taking a selfie.

A facial recognition software is expected to be available via the end of the year that will link to a MasterCard account, recognizing your mug and registering via a snap to the purchase. Or, when paying for something in a store, consumers can simply scan their face by holding up their phone and blinking. 

"The new generation, which is into selfies... I think they'll find it cool," MasterCard security maestro Ajay Bhalla, said via CNN. "They'll embrace it."

The biometric system, known as ID Check, was created by MasterCard in partnership with Apple, Google and Samsung, and digitizes your face into a series of zeroes and ones that convert the image into a hash that's then compared to the hash stored on MasterCard's servers, according to the company.

But of course, this type of technology has been rolling around for years and many believe that biometric security may be safer than using passwords that could potentially be cracked into.

"The security breaches of last year were and continue to be a concern for consumers," said Tonya Rapley, Founder of My Fab Finance, adding that she supports the company's decision to move toward's what she believes is tighter security. "We work hard for our money and we want to feel like it is protected."

Starting in the fall, MasterCard will begin testing out the facial recognition technology on over 500 customers.

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