We've seen some video content that are quite disturbing and questionable. Of course they are. If not, why will some people climb stacked crates, trying to reach the top for the sake of following a trend and going viral? Why will a man choose to climb to the top of the Taipei 101 building, which is 508 metres (1667 feet) high and 101 floors? Or why engage in risky acts like jumping from heights and performing risky car and motorcycle tricks?
All of these acts are dangerous. You tend to wonder if some are even true when you watch them because you would expect to see such things in movies. But people take these risks, and mostly for the sake of some virality or crazy content that puts them out there in the face of the audience, gaining them a large number of followers on their socials. For some, it might just be to prove a point or prove oneself. Whatever the case may be, is any of that worth it?
I don't think it's really worth it, especially when one's life is highly at risk. Yes, such content has the capacity to change a person's life for good through the rewards that could come from such acts, especially from the online space. I consider that this is the driving factor of many doing such. Though some of these acts have favoured some people, yielding them results as expected or even without that in mind, yet it remains an unworthy path to tread.
Life should be highly valued above all; even the wealth and riches we seek. For some, it might just be a chase of fame and virality, or even becoming part of the Guinness Book of Records. But at what cost? That's the big question. Another thing is, when people seek these rewards at the risk of their lives, what becomes of them when they end up losing their lives in the process? Will the people remember them? Maybe for a little while, but they will be forgotten, easily.
I'm concerned, and have been about what social media has turned us into. It's still turning us into more, and this isn't for good. People do all manner of things today to get likes, views, visibility and monetisation. We want to go viral by all means and when all manner of appalling, immoral and disgusting things aren't okay, people have jumped into risky adventures to achieve that. It doesn't sit right when we play with life like this for clout and money.
Just to wrap it up, there is much other content that has and can give a person that virality and even the money they seek. Yes, it's a difficult route obviously. You have to keep creating content with maybe little to no results for a long time, as opposed to how those risky acts favour. But at least your life is in check and not set at risk. Also, how do those content impact others? To inspire taking risks like them, or just to entertain others at their peril for the sake of virality?
Image is AI generated.
