To be admired on social media, people often cross boundaries until the greed for fans ends tragically.
Allanah Harris told millions of followers about her daughter Daisy’s brain tumor and raised money. But the hospital exposed the Australian: apparently she had poisoned the baby with tranquilizers. Now the mother faces prison and the loss of all four children.
Subway surfers of Vienna
More and more people are risking their lives and the lives of others to go viral on social media. The case in Vienna was particularly dramatic, where two young people were surfing on the roof of a moving subway – live on TikTok. As they entered Schönbrunn station, they collided with an overpass. Their final message to the world: a deadly livestream.
YouTuber deliberately crashed a plane
YouTuber Trevor Jacob’s action in the US was particularly dangerous for others. He deliberately crashed his plane in 2021. He feigned an emergency and jumped out of the plane with his parachute, all in front of the cameras. He then walked for hours through the wilderness, apparently looking for help. He secretly destroyed the wreckage to avoid investigation. The receipt: six months in prison. His pilot’s license is revoked again, as are his YouTube channel and his fans.
Experts around the world are sounding the alarm. The New York Times recently quoted psychologist Jean Twenge as saying: “Social media makes young people feel like they have to constantly fight for validation. They chase likes like other people chase money. The costs are immeasurable.”
Michael Carr-Gregg, an Australian psychologist, also spoke of a “toxic culture of constant competition for visibility” that is dragging young people into the abyss in particular. They risk their safety just to be part of the social media hype.
Experts criticize the lack of transparency
But how can it come to this? TikTok regulates harmful content by blocking dangerous challenges and search terms. But experts criticize the lack of transparency: why some content is removed and others not remains unclear.
And if the algorithm fails, dangerous trends spread quickly – especially among young people, who quickly become enthusiastic about challenges under peer pressure. But digital applause is often stronger than the voice of reason.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
