Taking videos of strangers

[Deaaae]

I’m very late to social media! As you can probably tell from my AIBU, I’m really curious what others think will happen in the future as to me it’s very unacceptable that people take videos of random strangers and post online. I’ve just seen a huge debate on social media (I’m not posting as don’t want more traffic drawn to it) and it’s leaning towards people saying well the guys in public space so the OP has a right to post but others like me (minority) are saying it’s an invasion of his space and what if the genders were reversed. So basically this middle aged man who looks very well-groomed in a suit is on his phone playing a game and the poster is filming him for around 1-2 minutes and she wrote a caption saying “wow! His hands are so neat and tidy, what job do you all think he does “. The issue I have is he’s minding his own business but this girl has a full video showing his whole face.

I don’t believe in the future this kind of thing will be acceptable as it is now to take videos of random people. What do others think? Will laws come about or will things get worse? I have social anxiety and seeing these videos make me so uncomfortable as anyone can just take a video of me or my family and post online! Not that I do anything remotely exciting or incriminating but that’s not the point. I just feel really sad for these people. There another one my colleague mentioned today where the poster takes videos of people eating alone and everyone comments on how sad they are! Apparently there’s sad music playing in the background of these videos and they get thousands of comments. BTW: I eat alone often when I need peace from my kids and DH.

This would be my worst nightmare.

Me and my dc moved many miles away to keep ourselves safe from my ex. Into a refuge initially but have settled here now.

There have been times when someone had been an absolute bell end to me in public, but I don't feel like I can say anything in case someone whips out a camera and puts it on social media and then my ex will know where we are.

It's terrifying.

I think its awful and has probably contributed to the shit mental health of many people

The 'Karen' shaming was a sexist campaign to keep women in line

The potential for bullying caused by someone recording you in an unflattering moment and posting it online is crazy

But I dont see what can be done. The horse has bolted

Just be at your best whenever you leave the house

I feel strongly that it is and should be acceptable to film people in public places and it is weird to object to it.

I don't film or post films anywhere, btw, except maybe my own kids very occasionally. Ridiculous to argue for it being unacceptable, though.

My boyfriend has been filmed having autistic meltdowns in public.
Why do you think it is acceptable to film him? And why would you? What do you want with the footage

Would it be OK for someone to film my dd having a seizure in public, post it online to take the piss, then my ex knows where we are and he can come and kill us?

As long as people's right to film others isn't infringed upon, fuck the consequences for people who stay offline for their own safety.

You may not like it but how on earth can you ‘do something about it’? You can’t stop people filming in public - how could that possibly work in practice? Would you have to get everyone’s permission? What about dash cams? Or Ring footage?

If you stop and think about it for more than five seconds, you’d realise how unworkable it would be.

I think the real issue here is people filming and sharing the videos.

It may be an 'issue' but it's not one anyone can really do anything about it, other than try and change peoples attitudes towards it.

Why did you watch it? She was probably only filming to get views and you supported that thought by watching and increasing her count. You would have been better off ignoring it, or stopping when you realized what it was.

Yes I know. People who share videos of people in medical emergency or crisis should be shamed.

There is a world of difference between "acceptable" and "legal".

In no way is it acceptable to film someone in obvious distress. Most people would at least have the decency to recognise another human being is in difficulty, and if it's not immediately apparent how they can help, they'd at least have the humanity to not whip their phone out and start filming.

The problem is the selfie/insta/SM culture has created people who feel the need to record every moment of their lives for the sake of clicks and likes, and evidently some of them lack the compassion and decency to realise that not everything should be filmed.

I don't think you remedy that by blanket banning filming in public places, which is what some people are advocating, because in doing so you would also ban the much more common occurrence of people filming entirely innocent things for entirely wholesome purposes.

People give up any right to privacy when they enter public spaces, so the question is how does society get it through the skulls of those with no humanity that there are times when the phone should stay in their pocket.

My dd(6) is autistic and has struggles in public

How terrifying to worry that someone will be filming us with the purpose of shaming my parenting online

I think it is fine to film yourself in public. There is no reason you need to film someone else especially without their consent.

They should feel ashamed I agree, but this seems to be an emotion that is increasingly lacking in our society. It's not something we are going to be able to legislate our way out of I'm afraid.

My boyfriend is in his 50s. I can guarantee no one will film your child having a meltdown but as an adult it is seen as tragic or funny. Most likely not understood. My boyfriends meltdowns present as anger so he shouts and swears.

You consent automatically as soon as you enter a public place.

I'm not sure how you could enforce a theoretical ban on filming others while maintaining freedom to film yourself. People will naturally appear in the background of any sort of filming in a moderately busy place. You can't realistically stop everyone on the High Street and ask them to fill out a consent form on the off-chance they are caught in the background of your footage of you leaving the registry office with your new spouse.

It is not so much about being filmed but the footage being shared online for likes and clicks.
Like I said in another comment I have been on the top of a car park wanting to take my life and I saw people filming me. Yes I can not stop that. But to see footage of me shared online is pretty shit.

I feel strongly that it is and should be acceptable to film people in public places and it is weird to object to it

Would you have an issue with people filming your dc in an accident @lljkk?

I feel strongly that it is and should be acceptable to film people in public places and it is weird to object to it.

I find the idea of filming a stranger and posting it online incredibly weird.

Same here. When I am out I am minding my own business.

You’ve highlighted a sensation I’ve felt about social media.

I always wondered why, when an emergency happens, absolutely everyone brings out their phones and starts filming. If someone has fainted then give them space. If a car has crashed - check that they are ok - I don’t know, be more human. It’s crazy that our first reaction is to now film.

It isn’t mine. I have a child that is unwell and we regularly visit a&e, and they told me I need to remember to record each episode - I always forget because in an emergency, I am reacting to my immediate surroundings.

It’s no wonder we are a society with declining social skills.

Of course!

I'm entirely in agreement, just making the argument that I don't believe a blanket ban is appropriate, and that half-way solutions would be unworkable.

The laws on filming/privacy/consent are fine just as they are, the issue needing tackled is people choosing to film when it's wholly inappropriate to film, how we get it to sink in with people who carry their phone around like it's part of their anatomy, and what to do about it when they do film and post inappropriate things.

The police will ask people to take down inappropriate footage, and if the poster refuses they can then approach host sites, ISP's etc, but I think there's a good case it should be subject to something akin to "revenge porn" law, in that posting it in the first place merits a charge. You would probably struggle though, to prove that the poster knew they what they were posting was clearly someone in distress and not just someone fooling around.

I always wondered why, when an emergency happens, absolutely everyone brings out their phones and starts filming. If someone has fainted then give them space. If a car has crashed - check that they are ok - I don’t know, be more human. It’s crazy that our first reaction is to now film.

People often argue that filming is important for the police etc but then hand the footage into the police don't upload it for likes.

A crime taking place is ok to be filmed. Not someone having a seizure or other medical episode.

A crime taking place is ok to be filmed. Not someone having a seizure or other medical episode.

Crimes often result in medical episodes though..