Remember that viral “social experiment” with a man and a puppy that illustrated how easily kids could be lured away from playgrounds? Well, a new video has surfaced that stirs the same kind of paranoia among parents of teenagers, and it’s just as unsettling and unnecessary as the first one. This latest creation exploits the fears of parents regarding the safety of their teens, but the methods it uses to deliver its message are downright disturbing.
Meet Jake Rivers
Meet Jake Rivers, a self-proclaimed “prankster” with a YouTube channel boasting over a million subscribers. In this video, he deviates from his usual antics to attempt to impart a lesson about the perils of social media. Jake creates fake Facebook profiles to lure unsuspecting teens—along with their parents—into potentially dangerous situations.
Each “experiment” follows a similar pattern: Jake announces that he will be meeting a young girl, while the parents confidently assert that their daughter would never engage with a stranger. However, the girl ultimately makes the risky decision to meet this unfamiliar person, only to be confronted by her shouting parents. Disturbing, isn’t it?
The Risks of Social Media
Yes, it’s alarming to consider the possibility of your teenage daughters meeting online predators. For sure, social media does pose risks, and it’s crucial for parents to remain vigilant. But what does this extreme scare tactic actually achieve? In my view, it does little more than sever the trust between these girls and their parents. Parenting expert Kate Reynolds notes that this video “fuels the myth that every child is perpetually at risk from strangers, which is simply not true.”
The young women featured in the video are left frightened and traumatized, momentarily believing they are under attack. While my perspective may be in the minority, I find this type of tough-love parenting to be completely unnerving. We must educate our children on navigating social media dangers, but subjecting them to fear through stunts like this is simply wrong.
The Viral Impact
Interestingly, the video has amassed over 12 million views in just two days. The earlier puppy video, which also went viral, demonstrated how quickly children could engage with strangers in parks. While it was shocking to witness child after child interacting with unfamiliar adults, it’s important to remember that the “boogeyman” we all fear is extremely rare. According to a Washington Post analysis, only 0.1 percent of missing person cases involve what we think of as “stereotypical kidnappings”—those instances where a complete stranger forcibly abducts someone.
Yet, the puppy video was viewed over 9 million times and intermittently flashed the message, “One share can save a life.” I highly doubt any lives were safeguarded, but it’s clear that someone profited. Viral videos often generate revenue, which explains the lengths some creators will go to in order to make them.
Conclusion
We all worry about the potential risks of social media for our teenagers, but I believe these scare tactics go too far—these young girls were seriously violated.
For further insights on navigating parenthood, you can check out our other blog posts, such as this one. If you’re interested in learning more about self-insemination, this resource is a great starting point. Additionally, the CDC offers excellent information on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, while the intentions behind such videos may be to educate, the methods employed often lead to more harm than good, fostering fear and mistrust rather than open communication.