Trolling and gimmicks are almost the norm on social media platforms in the new age. The more outrageous, cheeky, and sarcastic a video, joke, account, etc., is, the more online traction and attention it gets. However, the humor doesn’t always land.
As a result, people get offended, which makes its way to mainstream media outlets, where it gets bashed to hell and beyond.
Something similar happened recently regarding the viral ankle monitor video on social media platforms. In the video that originated on TikTok, a guy can be seen tying a colorful ankle monitor around a child’s leg. The video looks like an ad meant to promote a product that looks like it has been made for kids. But is the footage real?
No, the viral video of the ankle monitor for kids isn’t real. Nothing as such exists in the real world. It’s a fake product made by @legbootlegit and artist @shampoooty. Both of them have created several other videos where they add an adult twist to children’s toys. They claim that they do it because it’s fun.
Is the Ankle Monitor for Kids Video Real?
TikTok is the hub of videos that will make you raise your eyebrows. Recently, another video with millions of views made its rounds there and even escaped to other social media sites like Twitter and Instagram. This video was about an ankle monitor for children. It looked like an influencer product promotion video that espoused the benefits of having a kid’s ankle monitor. The voiceover said:
“This brand is a godsend. Taking a page out of the criminal rehabilitation playbook and applying it to children. The device easily straps onto your toddler’s leg and then puts in the work 24/7 to make sure they’re staying where they belong.”
After that, the video continued as the narrator explained the device’s features. This included parental tracking and the ability to give the kids a small shock if they misbehave. Furthermore, the device can be seen as available on the shelves of Walmart in the clip, seemingly genuine and ready to buy.
At a glance, the video looks real. But the way it is structured and the voiceover make it clear that it’s a parody of influencer advertising of the products we see every day. However, not everyone understood that, so people online were shocked at the ankle monitor for kids and thought it was real. Some called it inhumane as well.
But the product is clearly fake. One close look at the video shows that the company logo on the product is “Little Yikes,” which seems to be spoofing the actual children’s toy company called “Little Tikes.” The fake ankle monitor was created by Justin, who goes by @legbootlegit online, and artist @shampoooty.
They have other videos promoting fake children’s toys with an adult twist. So why do they do this? Because it’s fun. Independent UK reported the creators saying:
“You’d be surprised how fun it is to spread harmless misinformation. The world could use a little more crazy, a little more weird, a little more humor. I’m helping fill that void. In an age where AI, government regulations, and globalist agendas are trying to squeeze everyone into a Brave New World mold of their own design, I think it helps to introduce some playful human error into the margins. I’m trying to make art statements for and about humanity.”
This isn’t the first time people have fallen prey to such fake devices. Prankster Jeff Wysaski carried out a project called “Obvious Plant,” where he put fake products on store shelves. From pacifiers for adults to joyless career dolls modeled to look like the Ken doll, the operation took social media by storm a couple of years back. Judging by how this trend is still going, it seems like it will continue for a while.
What are your thoughts on the ankle monitor for kids video?
Did the creators go too far in having their fun? Or would some parents actually love having such a device (minus the shock feature)?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Independent UK
