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A disturbing new trend has emerged on TikTok that has parents and experts alarmed, with teens accused of turning humiliation into content.
What might look like a quick laugh online is leaving real-world damage.
Dubbed the “flip the camera” challenge, the trend sees a group of teens dance while handing a phone to an unsuspecting person to film them.
But after a few moments of dancing, one person suddenly flips the camera, capturing the reaction of the person holding it. That footage is then posted online for laughs, with the unwitting subject becoming the punchline.
The mortification only continues with strangers laughing at their expense in the comment section.
Many have taken to the platform to slam those taking part in the trend, calling it a clear form of bullying.
Viewers have pointed out that the so-called “joke” often targets the quiet kid, the introvert, or simply someone kind enough to offer help. It’s turning an innocent gesture into a moment of public humiliation.
You may remember the “very demure” trend that took over last year. The creator behind it, Jools Lebron, has condemned the “flip the camera” craze in a tearful video.
“That flip the camera trend… all I just see is a bunch of faces of people who are just trying to help,” she cries.
Another creator, @keith_toks, slammed it as the most “degrading trend” ever to hit TikTok.
“There’s people out there saying, ‘Oh, this is just kids being kids. Let kids have fun.’ This is not just kids having fun; this is kids getting away with bullying and then posting it on social media for everybody to see,” he said.
One viral clip shared by @dreyysiller shows the American mother lecturing her two preteens about even considering joining in.
“I’d better not catch you doing anything like that, do you understand me?” she lectures.
For Janet Grima, CEO of Bully Zero Australia, the trend is heartbreaking to see.
“The person being filmed is often the quieter kid, the outsider, or someone who isn’t part of the main group dancing. The humor relies on them looking awkward or surprised, and that’s when it crosses from playful to cruel – it’s basically social humiliation dressed up as content,” Grima told news.com.au.
The way bullying has evolved online, she says, is becoming increasingly concerning.
“We’ve observed online behavior gradually change over the years. What was once clearly recognized as bullying is now often described as a ‘trend’ or a ‘challenge,’” she points out.
“Social platforms tend to reward anything that provokes a reaction, and sadly, that means videos that embarrass someone can quickly go viral. This normalizes the idea that public shaming is just entertainment.”
Grima urged parents to get ahead of their kids, potentially making a permanent mistake online.
“Consent matters online just as much as it does in real life. Kids need to understand that filming someone, especially if that person doesn’t know they’re about to be part of a TikTok, can genuinely hurt them,” she explained.
“Parents should talk to their kids about empathy… It’s also vital to teach kids that they are allowed to say no. If someone tries to hand them a phone or drag them into a video, they can decline.”
For the rest of us scrolling past these clips, Grima says there’s one simple way to help stop it.
“The most powerful thing a user can do is not engage. Don’t like it, don’t comment on it, don’t share it. The algorithm rewards attention, so starving the content of interaction is genuinely effective,” she said.
“Reporting the video is also important. TikTok has clear rules against bullying and harassment, and this kind of content usually falls under those categories.”
