New York Metropolis officers are working to curb the damaging follow of “subway browsing,” the place folks climb onto the roofs of shifting subway vehicles, following a surge in unintentional deaths, NPR reported.
The follow continues to realize reputation due to TikTok and different social media apps, and officers have repeatedly requested these platforms to take away movies of the stunts to forestall future incidents, per the outlet. Some movies associated to subway browsing had been eliminated following NPR’s inquiries.
The NYPD informed NPR that it has logged 82 situations of subway browsing between January 1 and July 9 this yr.
“Sadly, we have witnessed far too many tragic outcomes related to this mindless act, which is fueled by social media, intention, clout, and poor choices,” Michael Kemper, NYPD chief of transit, mentioned in a press briefing in July.
“Our message is obvious to anybody who’s contemplating subway browsing. Do not do it. Not solely is it unlawful and you can be arrested if caught, however individuals are actually dying whereas doing it,” he added.
The follow of subway browsing has surged over the previous yr, elevating concern for native NYC officers. David Dee Delgado | Getty Pictures.
Within the first six months of 2023 alone, 4 youngsters, ranging in age from 14 to 16, have died whereas subway browsing, whereas three suffered “debilitating accidents” that may very well be “life-altering,” Kemper mentioned within the briefing.
The rise of the incidents is regarding and a stark improve from the 5 suspected subway browsing deaths that occurred between 2018 and 2022, Michael Cortez, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), informed NPR.
In the meantime, the final follow of “driving outdoors of trains” which incorporates subway browsing and likewise shifting between vehicles or “hanging outdoors of them,” jumped from 206 incidents in 2021 to 928 in 2022, in accordance with MTA information, per The New York Instances.
In response to those incidents, the NYPD has taken proactive measures, together with partaking with the mother and father and guardians of recognized subway surfers to dissuade their participation within the exercise, NPR added.
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams has known as upon social media corporations to ban movies depicting subway browsing.
“Social media should be socially accountable. Subway Browsing kills. We want everybody to be part of ending this harmful menace,” the mayor posted on X in June.
That is hardly the primary time tendencies on social media have led to unfavorable — and typically harmful — outcomes:
- The “Benadryl Problem” concerned customers taking excessive quantities of the over-the-counter allergy drugs to induce hallucinations whereas documenting the expertise on social media. It took the life of a 13-year-old teenager from Ohio in April.
- The “Kia Problem” gained reputation in 2021 when social media customers documented learn how to straightforward it was to interrupt into Kia and Hyundai autos. This led to a surge of automotive break-ins across the nation, leading to a $200 million class motion lawsuit settled in Could.
- The “In My Emotions” problem, which gained consideration in 2018, concerned folks recording movies of themselves dancing to the Drake tune, usually alongside a slow-moving automotive, which typically led to accidents or accidents.
- The “Tide Pod Problem,” the place people filmed themselves trying to eat or chew into laundry detergent pods, emerged in 2018, resulting in a regarding quantity of youth fatalities.
- The “Cha Cha Slide Problem” emerged in early 2020, and had customers singing alongside to the tune whereas driving, however because of the tune’s lyrics (“slide to the left!”), folks had been swerving on the street.
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