Enjoyable prank or cyberbullying? Internet pushes again on ‘flip the camera’ development | story

Victims might really feel stress to cover harm emotions, says skilled

⭐️HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW⭐️

• A development referred to as ‘flip the camera’ has gone viral the previous few weeks on TikTok.
• It  includes movies of individuals recorded in embarrassing methods with out their consent.
• Many on the web have referred to as out the development as cyberbullying.
• Read on to search out out why an skilled says it may be so dangerous. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

The movies sometimes begin the identical method.

A gaggle of teenagers asks somebody — perhaps in a hallway or within the college cafeteria — to take a video of them doing a dance for TikTok.

They ask the particular person to carry the telephone backward, with the display dealing with away from them, in order that the dancers can see themselves dancing. 

But halfway by means of their dance, they click on the flip the digicam button with out warning the particular person recording them, capturing them with a double chin, a confused expression or in another embarrassing state. 

Then — with or with out that particular person’s consent — the video is posted to social media.

It’s referred to as the “flip the camera” development. These movies have been pulling thousands and thousands of views on TikTok over the previous few weeks, but additionally pushback from individuals who say it’s a type of cyberbullying.

So is all of it in good enjoyable, or is it dangerous?

It all will depend on the context, however one skilled says there are issues teenagers want to noticeably take into account earlier than flipping that digicam on somebody. 

“Before doing something like this, understand that it can be very hurtful and it is very hard to predict how hurtful it is going to be, even if that person tells you they’re OK with it.” – Matthew Johnson, director of training at MediaSmarts 

Internet pushes again 

After flip the digicam movies went viral, movies of backlash to the development have began pulling thousands and thousands of views of their very own.

TikTok consumer @nevaermind, for instance, was one of many viral victims of the development after different college students flipped the digicam on her.

But on Nov. 11, she referred to as them out.

TikTok consumer @nevaermind spoke out after different college students did the flip the digicam development on her. (Image credit score: @nevaermind/TikTok) 

She posted the unique flip the digicam video, then stitched a video of herself alone, wanting devastated. “What did I do to deserve this?” she requested within the caption. 

Some commenters on the video — which has greater than 9.4 million views — began questioning the development themselves. 

“You literally go to my school…. [You] seem so nice and I’m so sorry they did that,” wrote consumer @khlobug_01. “Even if it’s a trend, it’s not OK.” 

And consumer @gene.rolonnn wrote: “I’m so glad these TikTok ‘trends’ are being seen for what they are. Blatant bullying.” stated. 

Why this may be extra dangerous than you first suppose 

Matthew Johnson, director of training at MediaSmarts, stated he understands why it may be tempting to leap on tendencies like this.  

“We see a lot of examples in the media where mean teasing is rewarded and presented as being funny,” he stated. “It can seem like the attention you get from it is worth the harm it causes.” 

And some folks won’t even acknowledge the potential for hurt.

He stated teasing is a standard a part of teen tradition — significantly amongst boys — however as a result of teenagers are nonetheless creating empathy, it may be exhausting to know when teasing turns into dangerous. 

“Everyone is different. Something that is mild teasing to you could, to someone who is a bit less confident, be really hurtful.” 

Many on the web are calling out the flip the digicam development for instance of cyberbullying. (Image credit score: diorrsofii/TikTok) 

Worse, you won’t even know when somebody is upset.

“We know that people who are really hurt often have a strong motivation to conceal it, because being a victim lowers your sense of status in a school.” 

Johnson stated that’s an necessary factor for teenagers to remember, particularly relating to the flip the digicam development.

That’s as a result of victims might really feel pressured to say sure when the one who flipped the digicam on them asks if they will publish the video on-line, as a result of the victims don’t need to look weak or uncool. 

Of course, Johnson additionally stated that it’s best to by no means put images or movies of somebody on-line with out their consent. 

You can’t management the web

Jonhson stated one other difficulty with the development is that, even when the prank goes over effectively with the sufferer in particular person and also you get their consent to publish the video, the web is a a lot totally different place.

When you set it on the web, you set the sufferer prone to being cyberbullied — even should you attempt to restrict who sees it. 

“Once you post, people can always make copies, forward and share videos,” Johnson stated. “You can never control the final audience once you put something online.” 

Some of the flip the digicam movies are extra innocent, like this one in every of consumer @gsheashea and her dad. But many seem like pranking individuals who aren’t snug with the state of affairs. (Image credit score: gsheashea/TikTok)

Once one thing is on the web, it might probably additionally keep there for for much longer than you anticipate, which means somebody who’s harm by the prank can proceed to be harm by it all through their lives. 

What victims (and bystanders) can do

If a sufferer desires to get their video pulled offline, the very first thing they need to do is to ask the one who uploaded it to take it down. Research reveals that works more often than not, Johnson stated. 

If they refuse to take it down, there are another choices.

First, you possibly can report the video to the social media platform for cyberbullying — though Johnson stated it may be tough to get a platform to take away another person’s publish, relying on the state of affairs. 

He stated that you would be able to additionally ask your college to step in, as faculties in most provinces have the facility to self-discipline college students for issues that occur on social media.

“We know many are reluctant to take this step for fear that it will escalate beyond their control, but it’s important to know that your school is there for you,” he stated. 

It will also be useful to speak to a trusted grownup, trainer or Kids Help Phone that can assist you by means of the method and to handle the painful feelings it’s possible you’ll be having. 

Bystanders may also assist

If you see somebody who’s the goal of the flip the digicam development, Johnson stated you possibly can allow them to know you don’t suppose what occurred is OK, ask them how they’re doing, and ask if you are able to do something to assist.

But his most necessary message is to these contemplating doing the development.

“Before doing something like this, understand that it can be very hurtful and it is very hard to predict how hurtful it is going to be, even if that person tells you they’re OK with it,” he stated. 

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