Social media vultures are ‘ruthlessly exploiting’ the most vulnerable for views – one council has had enough

Several social media users are ‘exploiting’ vulnerable people for views, Newcastle city council said - (TikTok)

On a cold morning in Newcastle city centre, a woman is sitting in a woolly hat and coat, a blanket over her lap, playing the accordion. A man walks past and offers her a £20 note before quickly snatching it away when she goes to take it. He then swears at her before walking away.

All of this interaction is captured on camera without the woman even realising. It is then uploaded to TikTok, where it collects 4.2 million views and more than 5,000 comments. The vast majority of them are criticising him – but it doesn’t matter. For him, it is all engagement.