Remember that viral video featuring a guy with a puppy that aimed to show parents just how easily their kids could be lured away from playgrounds? Well, there’s a new unsettling video making the rounds, and it’s just as anxiety-inducing as the last one. This time, it targets the fears of parents with teenagers, but the way it “educates” is downright disturbing.
Meet Jake Thompson, a self-proclaimed prankster with a YouTube channel boasting over a million subscribers. In his latest clip, he shifts focus from his usual antics to deliver a harsh lesson about the perils of social media. He creates fake social media profiles to lure unsuspecting teenagers into risky situations, with the help of their own parents.
Each “experiment” plays out similarly: Jake discusses his upcoming meeting with a young girl, the parents confidently assert their daughter would never engage with a stranger, and then the girl ultimately decides to meet him. This moment of poor judgment leads to a dramatic reveal where her parents, who were in on the prank, show up yelling. Take a look for yourself:
Yes, it’s chilling to consider the idea of your teenage daughters meeting up with strangers online. Yes, social media can indeed pose dangers, and parents must remain vigilant. But what does this scare tactic really accomplish? It seems to do little more than erode the trust between parents and their kids. Parenting expert Sarah Mitchell mentions in an article on Yahoo Parents that this video “perpetuates the myth that every child is in constant peril from strangers, which is simply not true.”
The girls featured in the video are left shaken and frightened, momentarily believing they are in danger. I might be in the minority here, but I find this tough-love approach to parenting incredibly unsettling. While it’s crucial to prepare our children for the risks of social media, scaring them as part of a sting operation feels so wrong.
Interestingly, this video has racked up over 12 million views in just two days. The previous puppy video also went viral, demonstrating how quickly kids can engage with strangers in parks. It was shocking to see children interact with unknown individuals, sometimes even following them to a car. However, the reality is that the so-called “boogeyman” that we all fear is exceedingly rare. A study by the Washington Post found that only 0.1 percent of missing persons cases involve what we traditionally think of as a “kidnapping” — where a stranger forcibly abducts a child.
Despite the alarming messages that pop up throughout the video, claiming “One share can save a life,” I doubt any lives were truly saved, though it certainly seems to have generated some revenue. Viral videos often pull in profits, which may explain why so many creators chase them.
We are all understandably concerned about the potential dangers of social media for our teens. However, in my opinion, these scare tactics are excessive – and the emotional impact on the girls involved is significant.
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In summary, while it’s essential to teach our children about online safety, using fear as a teaching method not only risks trauma but also damages parent-child relationships.