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This comedian’s prank may make you think twice about what you post on social media

This comedian’s prank may make you think twice about what you post on social media

Comedian Jack Vale is known for his hidden camera video pranks, which often capture reactions from unsuspecting participants.

In his latest, he performs an experiment of sorts to show us that strangers can actually learn a lot from what we post on social media about ourselves. And that sometimes, our online world can collide with our IRL (in real life) world.

The video opens:

“Hi, I’m Jack Vale, and I wanted to see how easy it would be to get personal information from complete strangers. And while I’m at it, of course, freak ‘em out a little bit.  Keep in mind when you watch this video, I got all of this information just by searching their personal social media posts, and I got it by searching for the closest Twitter, Instagram and other social media posts to my current location.  Let’s go!”

It’s rather amusing to see some of the reactions as Vale flags down people by name, and brings up their pet dogs and lizards, birthday celebrations, and what meals they had, among other mundane details.  Not surprisingly, it prompted gasps and exclamations like, “Wow, you are tripping me out right now.”

In the end, Vale reveals to his unsuspecting subjects that it’s all been a social media experiment…with video cameras.

Most took the experiment/prank in stride, although one seemed maybe not quite so understanding.

But the experiment actually brings to light a more serious point about what we reveal online through social media.  (For those who choose to use the feature, that could also include adding your location to your tweets).  Most don’t think about the fact that anyone can view the information and potentially use it for other purposes, while others simply aren’t concerned or bothered by it.

h/t Business Insider

(Featured image credit: YouTube video)

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Comments

How much easier to pick out a victim if you can understand not only the facts about their habits and proclivities, but also their relationship status and their personality, all while sitting at the next table over. Serial killing just got a whole lot more efficient.

    rabid wombat in reply to Immolate. | November 20, 2013 at 5:19 pm

    Hi Immolate, it is even worse. Think about all the SUV’s and vans that have the “stick figure” family on the back. Each one has “Kylie” or “Bob” and some sport or school attribution next to the stick figure family. This is easy pickings for some pervert to get a kid. Just think…”Hey, Kylie…your folks said no soccer today. Your dog is sick. Let’s go….”

    Too much information in the wrong hands…

    Not A Member of Any Organized Political in reply to Immolate. | November 21, 2013 at 11:21 am

    He got all that info off the ObamaCare website?????

    I swear I caught him state that!

    Snark Snark!

There’s a reason why I never use my real name on the internet.

TrooperJohnSmith | November 20, 2013 at 3:48 pm

It’s like playin’ poker. If you are careless enough to show me your cards, don’t expect me not to look and use it to my advantage. Same with all the crap we just love to share with our friends and family and…. anyone lurking in the shadows.

As Cicero once said: Caveat Internetius Non Postus Stupidii.

Another reason why I don’t have Facebook or Twitter.

    Not A Member of Any Organized Political in reply to NavyMustang. | November 21, 2013 at 11:24 am

    and every other “social media” (Media????) site!!!!!

    If you’re getting it for FREE, then you’re the PRODUCT!

Like the others, I don’t use social networking, except for a twitter on occasion. I would not use my real name, either, which is a shame, but safer.

It’s ironic that so many who shudder about the NSC hand out private info so freely.

Sally Paradise IS my real name in case anyone is reading this.

Near to the end, when he’s with the two guys with blurred out faces, one remarks as they walk off: ‘Thanks for invading our privacy.’ My God what an idiot. He posted whatever to the WHOLE WORLD that identified him and actions and is upset it was read and used to someone else’s advantage.

Stupid is as stupid does.

And yes, I’m another who has no Facebook/Twitter/Myspace etc. accounts

Oh yeah, I remember this guy.
He does those fake farting videos.

No, really, he does.

Seriously, look it up.

Yes, they’re about making farting noises in public and filming people’s reactions. He gets his friends and even his son to help him every now and then.

Well, no, I just happen to have seen them before, that’s all.
What the hell kind of question is that?

The pair who were indignant about their “privacy” must be Obama voters. Only people that stupid would post personal information on the internet and then expect privacy.

The guy who says thanks for invading my privacy is classic…

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