Blackpool Council slams provocative social media video creators for exploiting vulnerable residents
“Let’s bring back compassion for each other.”
Blackpool Council has called for greater “compassion” towards vulnerable people amid growing concern over self-appointed video auditors filming members of the public without their knowledge or consent and posting the footage online to generate views and money.
The council said people experiencing homelessness, addiction or mental health difficulties should be treated with dignity and respect, warning that their distress should not become a source of online entertainment.
“Let’s bring back compassion for each other,” Blackpool Council said.
“We should not lose sight of the fact that behind every video is a real person. Someone's difficult day, someone's addiction, someone's mental health struggles or someone's vulnerability should not become somebody else's business model.
There is a world of difference between honestly reporting or documenting those challenges and deliberately seeking out vulnerable people, provoking situations and turning their distress into online entertainment.”
The comments follow concerns raised earlier this month by council leader Cllr Lynn Williams about self-styled auditors filming confrontations and real-life incidents in Blackpool, particularly around the town’s night-time economy.
Cllr Williams said content creators, including some from outside Blackpool, were homing in on the night-time scene to deliberately show or cause mayhem. Footage appearing on platforms including Facebook, TikTok and YouTube has included physical fights involving people who had been drinking and appeared barely aware they were being filmed.
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In some cases, film-makers appear to have become directly involved in conflicts or provoked situations before recording and publishing them. The council said the issue was not about preventing people from filming in Blackpool, but about how vulnerable people are treated.
“But it’s about giving people who are experiencing issues, like homelessness, addiction or mental health problems, dignity and respect,” the council said, with the RNLI and police having also raised concerns about people choosing to film during emergencies rather than helping.
“Blackpool is a welcoming town. We are proud of our community, proud of our visitors and proud of the thousands of people who do so much good every single day.”
The council urged people to show Blackpool “as it really is” while remembering the responsibility to look out for those who may be less able to look after themselves. Anyone being filmed who does not want to be can walk away, the council said, adding that confrontation can attract views and generate money for those filming.
“We think it's best not to rise to it,” the council said.