Experts warn parents about ‘dangerous invisibility pranks’ on social media

The videos have been going viral.

You might have come across the invisibility pranks that have been growing in popularity over the last few weeks on social media. The videos show the prankster covering someone with a sheet and then pulling it away and convincing the person underneath that they are now invisible. Many of the videos show children being tricked and experts are now warning of the dangers of such pranks. One video, in particular, has been viewed over 18 million times on Twitter and has lead to many others recreating the prank with incredibly upsetting results.

well that escalated quickly pic.twitter.com/pSMBMwILZX

— makayla cunningham☕️ (@_makaylaanne__) September 8, 2018

Speaking about the dangers of such pranks, psychiatrist Dr Raji Guterres told Mamamia that they can be incredibly upsetting for children, especially those who suffer from anxiety.

“The point of the prank seems to be to make the target scared and worried – relying on the trust they have in the people around them,” she said. “Sure, it’s a joke, but the humour relies on laughing at the child.”

She said the prank is even more dangerous when played on children who “already feel insignificant or unheard in the family”.