One teen streamer nearly burned down his home in an attempt to gain subscribers. Is the online access into people’s homes a danger to young people?
Everyone wants to be a celebrity. Then, once you’re a celebrity, some people decide that wasn’t quite what they wanted after all. The glitz and glamor is fine, but celebrities still sneak to Taco Bell and watch television on their couch. Sure, owning a brand-new Ferrari is fun, but the lifestyles of the rich and famous can come with serious stressors not found in the rich and not-so-famous.
Yet this is lost on youth. And in a continuing trend of dangerous psychological behaviors surrounding social media, we’re beginning to see very young streamers on YouTube, Twitch, TikTok and other platforms, begin to take physical risks that put themselves and others in danger. You see, people will tune in if you do something very, very stupid. It’s like America’s Funniest Home Videos except it’s live, it’s semi-planned, there’s no moderating of content, and the more worrisome the actions, the more likely a tween or teen is to gain subs, followers, and views.
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Such was the dynamic likely taking place when an allegedly fifteen-year-old streamer called “Speed” decided to shoot fireworks inside his house. Not just inside his house though… inside his bedroom. The whole ordeal would be funny if not for the fact this could have legitimately killed people. Watch:
Firefighter looking at a box of flammables on his bed: “What happened? A firework went off?”
Streamer: “Yeah a firework went off and then it went boom”
Unreal. pic.twitter.com/q3GP03aNBQ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 5, 2022
Yes, firefighters had to be called. Yes, it seems like the teen’s guardian was rightfully frightened. And yes, this is a growing issue that parents should be aware of. The behavior of teenagers (and younger children) online is something that can have haunting results. A chase for the sensational can have serious consequences. Just as the rise of the internet brought the need to monitor a child’s web history, so too does the rise of streaming mean that parents need to make sure their kids aren’t chasing clout in a way that puts them at risk. People have wanted to be famous for all of history and now it has never been easier. But that ease of attention doesn’t make it any less dangerous. It may, perhaps, just amplify it even more.
Parents, keep an eye on your children. Famous or not, they don’t always make the best decisions… especially when the world truly is their stage. And if one of them takes a Pikachu firework cluster into their bedroom… that might be a reason to check in.
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Such an empty-headed generation