The TikTok pranker and social media: beware of the race to the bottom

“I wouldn’t really call it terrorising. I’ll just call it more having fun.”

“Hate brings money. Hate brings likes, brings views – it doesn’t matter.”

“I’m legally an adult I can do what I want.”

These are all quotes from from Bacari Bronze O’Garro (AKA ‘Mizzy’)  who is an 18 year old from Hackney, with a large presence on social media and now in the news. Going live on the social media platform, TikTok, the teenager completes ‘prank’ activities such as getting into people’s cars, recording others without their consent and stealing a dog. Entering a family home in May had him receiving a Community Protection Notice and having broken two of the requirements, he has now been arrested and charged.

Social media can be an amazing thing, to be able to connect so quickly with people from the other side of the world is great. I use it is because I have family in America and I like to keep in touch with them, see the pictures, know when they’ve moved etc. However, there is the risk of people allowing the privacy of the screen and the advancement of ‘likes’ to increase their confidence in behaviour that perhaps once upon a time they would never have considered doing.

In this way Bacari Bronze O’Garro has used it as a way to boost his popularity and for people to support and actively encourage his outrageous behaviour.Social media is being used as a tool to show children that its okay to be as bad you want if it gets you ‘likes’.

When I was younger my parents were very open about what social media can do and ultimately let us make our own mistakes, letting us be aware of how behaviour is seen and the consequences of it.