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After Teens Climb Williamsburg Bridge, Adams Blames Social Media

"We don't need social media to contribute to social disorder," Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday. New York City Mayor Adams blamed social media such as TikTok for recent thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the city linked to the viral "Kia Challenge" on TikTok. Adams also argued that social media companies should play a more active role in preventing social disorder. The teens' daredevil behavior recalled the February death of Zackery Nazario, a 15-year-old boy who was fatally struck by a beam while subway surfing on a train going across the Williamsburg Bridge. Adams has called for a presidential commission to study social media's effect on youths and society, and has also controversially called for ban on drill rap music videos that he said inspire violence. The videos highlight a vulnerability of Hyundais and Kias released from 2015 to 2019.

After Teens Climb Williamsburg Bridge, Adams Blames Social Media

ที่ตีพิมพ์ : 12 เดือนที่แล้ว โดย Matt Troutman ใน Auto

Adams continued his habit of blaming social media such as TikTok for some of New York City's ills during a news conference Thursday morning. The event highlighted recent thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the city that authorities have linked to the viral "Kia Challenge" on TikTok. Adams stopped short of calling to ban TikTok, but argued social media companies bear some responsibility.

"When we continue the pursuit to have this city stay the safest big city in America, we don't need social media to contribute to social disorder," he said. "I need my social media companies to play a more active role on how we don't put out dangerous social media challenges like these."

Such social disorder was on display, in Adams' telling, Wednesday evening when youths climbed atop the Williamsburg Bridge. Five teens — four 16-year-olds and one 13-year-old — were arrested in the dangerous stunt, the New York Post first reported.

"They were noticed taking photos," Adams said of the teens. The teens' daredevil behavior recalled the February death of Zackery Nazario, a 15-year-old boy who was fatally struck by a beam while subway surfing on a train going across the Williamsburg Bridge.

Adams and transit officials blamed the incident — and an associated rise in subway surfing events — on the unchecked popularity of social media videos highlighting the dangerous behavior. The mayor has called for a presidential commission to study social media's effect on youths and society. He has also controversially called for a ban on drill rap music videos that he said inspire violence. The car thefts, if they are indeed linked to the so-called "Kia Challenge," could fit into Adams' wider argument that social media is potentially harmful to society. The videos highlight a vulnerability of Hyundais and Kias released from 2015 to 2019. Those vehicles lack electronic immobilizersthat prevent thieves from breaking in and bypassing the ignition, The Verge reported. Thefts of Hyundais and Kias averaged roughly 10 to 12 a month before the "challenge" videos went viral in September, said NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell.


หัวข้อ: Media

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