Inside deadly social media driving trend
Heavy bass music blares through the speakers as an engine revs and the speedometer climbs past 90mph. On screen, a text overlay reveals a dark mantra currently sweeping across social media feeds: 'This and die at 20'.
TL;DR
- Young drivers are creating and sharing videos of dangerous stunts and high-speed driving on social media platforms.
- This trend has been linked to a rise in fatal wrong-way crashes, with multiple deaths reported in recent weeks.
- Campaigners and families of victims are calling for the criminalization of filming and uploading dangerous driving footage.
- Social media's amplification of risk-taking, the pursuit of likes and shares, and the desire for belonging are cited as key drivers of this behavior.
- Road safety organizations argue that self-regulation by social media companies is insufficient, and legal frameworks need to evolve.
- Incidents highlighted include a crash that killed seven people near Middlesbrough and another in Ireland that killed five teenagers and injured three sisters.
- Legal consequences for those involved in dangerous driving and content creation include lengthy prison sentences.
- Social media platforms state they prohibit such content and are working to remove it, but concerns remain about their effectiveness.