China: Parents stage distressing pranks on children for social media views

A controversial trend has emerged on Chinese short-video platforms like Douyin, where parents stage deceptive pranks on their young children to generate social media engagement. These videos often involve strangers or family members intentionally stealing food or intimidating children to capture their genuine fear and distress for views.

One documented instance involved a father filming a stranger taking food away from his young daughter, leaving the child feeling helpless and isolated while the parent laughed at the reaction. Similar behaviors include parents snatching food from toddlers or pretending to let strangers take children away, all designed to trigger intense emotional responses that drive high interaction rates on social media.