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The ‘boyfriend pranking videos’ trend isn’t even funny, it’s just abusive
It’s harmful and shows a basic lack of respect
This week serial prankster Brad Holmes made headlines again after shaving off his girlfriend’s eyebrow while she was asleep. He then proceeded to post it on Facebook where it was viewed over 720,000 times. Cue hundreds of boys tagging their mates under the video, and news stories about how huge and hilarious it was. But this wasn’t the first video of Brad tormenting his girlfriend, Jenny. Earlier this year he also posted a video of him rubbing a chilli on one of Jenny’s tampons, he then secretly filmed her using it as well the painful aftermath of the prank.
Unfortunately, Brad is one of many men pranking their girlfriends online in an attempt to generate some Facebook Likes and social recognition – all at the cost of their girlfriend’s health and dignity.
From chopping off hair to physically hurting some girls, these “pranks” are dominating the internet but the videos all demonstrate one thing – abusive behaviour. Physically and emotionally. Trying to justify these actions as “just a bit of banter” is insulting to all women. As well as being chronically unfunny, the videos illustrate a basic lack of understanding of women’s bodies and wellbeing. So why is it that more and more of these videos keep emerging and why is nothing being done to stop these videos going viral. They are not clever or funny, so why aren’t people calling it out?
Online pranksters exist in many shapes and sizes and of course they are not just male – just as abusers in relationships are not always male. However, the noticeable rise in boyfriends pranking girlfriends online is something that cannot be ignored. More than just competing for views and hits, the popular trend has now gone further, demonstrating male competition to see who can succeed at pushing women to their physical and emotional limits.
Questions need to be asked as to whether people would even coordinate such a prank if they didn’t have social media channels to post it out on. Without Facebook, Twitter and Instagram who would be able to acknowledge it? Why has such as culture become widely accepted online and why are these videos not condemned by society.
When these videos are going so huge, it’s worrying to imagine that the people tagging their mates below are influenced by them. It’s worrying to imagine that they think treating someone you’re supposed to love like this is funny, or acceptable. Emotionally or physically tormenting anyone in public would not be condoned, so it’s frankly baffling that it’s become prominent (and accepted) online.
Pranksters need to start taking responsibility for the actions in order to shut down this ridiculous and harmful movement and set an example to the next generation of men that abuse of any form will not be tolerated online.