Social Media Gone Too Far: Users seek attention and glory with dangerous videos on social media

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Short video apps have become the new platform for Chinese people to showcase their coolness and what they believe to be trendy. But some people have experienced severe injuries while trying to find their 15 seconds of fame, including one two-year old girl.

Mobile apps like Douyin and Kuaishou are the new favorites to capture visually appealing moments. But some users have taken the video posting a bit too far. Two days ago, a failed attempt to imitate one of the videos on Douyin caused a two-year old to be left with a severe spinal injury. Her father lost control while lifting his daughter.

DOCTOR "Her entire body couldn't move, especially her upper body. Minor activation remains in the lower body."

The unique dance moves and Parkour stunts have attracted many users, especially those looking to imitate what they see. By copying the moves, others can boost their visibility and popularity on the platform. Some even say using the app is addictive.

ZHU BEINENG DOUYIN USER "Taking videos with Douyin is addictive. The more videos I make, the more I want to make. At first I just recorded them on my phone instead of putting them up. More and more people were posting funny ones, so I posted one too. And the feedback was pretty good. "

Douyin responded on social media platform Weibo and warned users from imitating dangerous acts. It read, "We noticed some of the users experienced injuries while imitating on this app. These moves are recorded by users who have a dance background and have received training." An expert shared her view on the phenomenon.

MA SHICONG NEW MEDIA INDUSTRY ANALYST "This has a lot to do with the evolving demands of their users. Short videos are an upgrade from the pictures and text we saw in the past. They can deliver more information, and are more engaging, which is why so many people are enthusiastic about them."

Douyin says it will continue to establish an effective warning system to prevent such incidents.