The Never-ending Quest to be a Social Media Star

In our ever growing narcissistic society, people will do anything to be the next YouTube sensation or social media star. Unfortunately, their brilliant ideas are not often well planned. The combination of youth, the immediate need for attention, and poor planning are often a dangerous combination.

Recently, four local teens decided it would be a good idea to video their apparent shoplifting trip to a local convenience store. The video shows the youngsters boisterously walking in to the establishment, grabbing a few items and running back to the apparent "getaway" car. The video from inside the car, after the apparent theft, was filled with celebratory congratulations and excitement. What the video does not show is that it was all false. The entire thing was set up by the teens in an attempt to be famous on social media.

However, what really took place is quite different. In reality, the teens entered the store - without video rolling - and purchased several items. Next, they informed the clerk that they were making a video for a school project and asked if they could put the items back on the shelf and return a few minutes later with video running and "steal" the items that they previously purchased. The clerk agreed to allow the teens to carry out their ruse, thinking that it was for an educational experience.

The event was posted to social media, causing several concerned parents to contact the police. After a brief investigation, the teens admitted that the entire shoplifting episode was staged in an attempted to become famous on social media. They added that they had seen similar videos on Instagram and YouTube, and that they had gone viral.

While thinking of how to address this case, I ran across this anonymous quote:
"On the internet you can be anything you want. It's strange that so many people choose to be stupid."

As an agency, we greatly appreciate the parents who were concerned enough for the safety and welfare of others to take the time to contact the police over this incident. Parents like this will raise our next generation to be productive citizens. However, it seems that our narcissistic age has caused us to forget how society functions. In our society, there are people who are inherently good and helpful. These are people who run in to burning buildings to save those inside, when all others are fleeing from them. They do not do this to be the next YouTube hit or Instagram star. They do it because they are good to the core. That is how God made them. These are the same people who will attempt stop a robber or a thief in their tracks. Simply because it is the right thing to do.

The teens in our case thought that they had all of the variables under control. They scouted the store, spoke with the clerk, paid for and re-shelved the items. What they could not control was the next customer to pull on to the parking lot. Would it be an off-duty police officer, military veteran, or a citizen exercising her 2nd amendment right to open or concealed carry? This could have gone wrong 1,000 different ways, but it didn't. After thinking about all that could have gone wrong with this case, I don't really believe that the teens in our case were stupid, they were just plain lucky.

Before your next social media stunt, please consider those who are not in on the joke. I would hate for a well intention bystander to commit to an irreversible action, all because of a hoax.