Yes they are but you don't have to use it. Unfortunately you likely have many friends that do us it and if they write to you the you are using it by proxy. Look on Drudge today to see how effective google's facial recognition is.
I’m in control of myself and that’s it. I never got into Skype, Facebook, MySpace, or any other social media. I’ve deliberately obfuscated my online existence, and I’ve enjoyed relative anonymity insomuch as you can’t find out much about me through a web search. I do understand, as you’ve pointed out, that my friends and family may very well have pictures of me up on the Internet, and I recognize that there’s little can do about it.
It’s about responsibility for oneself. I can’t do anything about the idiots around me.