In the digital media era, a segment of “content creators” does not hesitate to choose drama as a path to exploit due to its quick effectiveness. However, what they did not foresee was the increasingly thin line between creating content and abusing tricks. As a result, a consequence that social media has to face is a serious crisis of trust.
Not far to look, from the staged sensitive scene of “the beautiful girl pickleball in the Red Mercedes” to the recent controversies surrounding the “harassment at the clothing store” clip, we can clearly see the curse of the fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” coming true: Netizens are skeptical of the “cry for help”.
Red Mercedes, beautiful girls playing pickleball, sensitive videos and the “dirty content” scam
The incident has become one of the prime examples of the “dirty content” strategy: using shocking, sensitive elements to create a media storm, regardless of ethics and truth. Remember, when this video spread at lightning speed, it sparked lively discussions across online forums. It exploited the public’s curiosity, stimulating negative discussions.
The truth was revealed, and the public was shocked to learn that this was a deliberately staged act. The sole purpose was to gain views and profit from the attention, involving personnel from a car garage. The individuals involved briefly stated: “It was all just content”.
Clothing store employee harassed by a young man
Following the “Red Mercedes” scam, the incident involving a young man exhibiting unusual words and behavior towards a female employee at a fashion shop in Ninh Binh further escalated the trust crisis. The content of the uploaded clip recorded the young man getting close, with harassing remarks: “I like you, so I came here. You look so beautiful, I can’t stand it,” prompting the girl to use security cameras and “her husband” to threaten him.
Instead of merely expressing outrage, many people raised the question: Could this be another staged act? This skepticism arises from the previous “dirty content” precedent of the uploader. The individual Q.S. (the owner of the clip) is also linked to the incident involving the car showroom that staged a sensitive scene inside a Mercedes to gain views. In response to the suspicions, user Q.S. denied staging and asserted that the incident had been reported to the police.
The police confirmed that the young man exhibiting unusual behavior was undergoing psychiatric treatment and had a medical record. Despite the clip owner denying staging, this incident clarified a reality: Netizens are no longer easily trusting what they see.
The Curse of The Boy Who Cried Wolf 4.0
The story of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” has become a perfect metaphor for the current crisis of trust on social media. On social media, the “wolves” represent serious issues: crime, scams, harassment, or information that needs to be warned about. Meanwhile, the “boy who cried wolf” refers to individuals or groups continuously producing “fake drama” to gain views. The horrific consequence is that when a real victim needs to speak out, requires help, or the community’s protection, their voice will be drowned out in a sea of doubt, regarded as just another “clickbait stunt”.
Social media cannot develop sustainably if it becomes a stage filled with fake scripts. It is time for the community to remember the oldest moral lesson: Only honesty is a solid foundation for building any relationship, including the relationship between content creators and the public. If this is achieved, then when the “wolves” truly come, the “cry for help” will be surely heard.