![]() But would it be as joyful for the prankster or as deviously satisfying to watch for the viewer? No. Had Seth, or anyone part of a prank, known beforehand they were being pranked, then it wouldn’t be as exploitative. In Seth’s case, and in almost every case, the power dynamics can be more equal if there is total consent. The other person is the pawn in the game they must either participate in the manipulation or, if they don’t want to, risk being invalidated and maybe told to “lighten up.” (They did not return a request for comment at the time.) The person who comes up with the prank holds the power they know the truth and their intent is to manipulate the truth for laughs. From fairly benevolent pranks, to something more troubling - like YouTuber parents Cole and Savannah LaBrant filming their 6-year-old daughter Everleigh’s distress after being told her puppy had been given away - prank videos follow a similar script. It’s become a popular genre on YouTube and walks a tightrope between entertainment and, in some cases, allegations of abuse. Seth’s victimhood represents, to me, the toxicity of “prank” culture. I would also like to say that there is space to talk about one person’s victimhood as we also hold them accountable for their possible wrongdoings.) When I asked Seth to address the allegation, he denied posting any “revenge porn,” but said instead he posted a video that “highlighted Erin confidently saying” the N-word. (I’m also aware of the accusations that Seth allegedly “posted revenge porn” against another Vlog Squad member, Erin Gilfoy. The video has been viewed 10 million times, and he has had to live with that trauma publicly. I won’t rehash all of the details, but the conflict centers on Seth coming to terms with David intentionally duping him into kissing someone without consent. (Dobrik did not return my multiple requests for comment.) But this week, the issue became front and center after reporting on Joseth “Seth” Francois’s accusation that David Dobrik’s prank on him in 2017 was sexual assault. The stickiness of online pranks is something I’ve been thinking about for years while covering usually the worst versions of them. ![]() ![]() I’m writing this newsletter to ask: Are YouTube pranks fun? And for whom? This week’s newsletter is inevitably going to invite reactions from people who think I’m dampening their fun. ![]()
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