The ones filming aren't courteously approaching people to ask a question; they are provoking a reaction.
This trend isn't new. I've seen people swarmed by TikTokers on the street once or twice, then asked questions to make them look stupid and laughed at. I too was mobbed by a hardbass crowd when that was a meme on social media about ten years ago. I was on a second or third date with someone at a restaurant, and it wholly ruined the mood when my date and I were made fools on some video that luckily never went viral.
It's not strictly dangerous or harmful, but it's definitely not a social interaction most people want. When you are the subject, it feels like you've been taken advantage of against your will, and publicly humiliated. And if the video goes viral, that's exactly what you will be.
> The ones filming aren't courteously approaching people to ask a question; they are provoking a reaction
And you're making this claims about all videos in this format or what? The "Man on the street" format isn't anything new. I don't think you have any evidence to state this as an absolute.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience with a video camera in public but you can be publicly humiliated and harassed without a camera too.
My disagreement is that there is no law requiring consent to film in public and there shouldn't be. We should clearly define what kind of behavior is considered harassment and create more avenues to reduce it but that is irrespective of recording. Something that was harassment without recording is still harassment with recording and vice-versa.
It feels like you're trying to strawman this. I will reiterate just in case your questioning is sincere - I was talking about the typical TikTok trend videos where a person in the street is ambushed for content. Not all "TikTok format" videos.
I carry around a very bright flashlight, which should be enough to dazzle cameras even in the day for several seconds. Never encountered those before though.
This trend isn't new. I've seen people swarmed by TikTokers on the street once or twice, then asked questions to make them look stupid and laughed at. I too was mobbed by a hardbass crowd when that was a meme on social media about ten years ago. I was on a second or third date with someone at a restaurant, and it wholly ruined the mood when my date and I were made fools on some video that luckily never went viral.
It's not strictly dangerous or harmful, but it's definitely not a social interaction most people want. When you are the subject, it feels like you've been taken advantage of against your will, and publicly humiliated. And if the video goes viral, that's exactly what you will be.