A Cary man was targeted by teens filming and provoking him at Home Depot, part of a viral trend, police investigating
Teenagers Target Man at Cary Home Depot
A Cary family had a distressing experience during a routine trip to a local Home Depot. A woman reported that her father was targeted by a group of teenagers.
She stated, “A group of teens appeared to be provoking him while filming—apparently part of a disturbing trend where individuals elicit a reaction and record it.”
Impact of Social Media on Behavior
Dr. Alice Cheng, a professor from NC State, has researched social media and its effects. She noted that while social media platforms may not directly encourage such behavior, they create an environment where provocative content is rewarded. This can lead to more confrontational incidents.
Cheng said, “What we are seeing here from my view is a collision between viral attention incentives and the real-world risk. Teenagers are treating public spaces like social media platforms, but the consequences offline are far less predictable.”
She added that when teenagers see certain content go viral, they often try to recreate it, even if it could be harmful.
“They (social media platforms) do reward the content that triggers a strong reaction and that creates an incentive structure where confrontation feels profitable sometimes even,” Cheng explained.
Similar Incidents and Community Response
This incident is not unique. Similar occurrences have been documented, with some gaining millions of views online. These trends have led some users to rethink their engagement with social media and distance themselves from platforms that reward negative interactions.
The Cary Police Department is investigating the reported assault. They are trying to contact the man who was allegedly assaulted by the teens. A Home Depot shopper emphasized the unpredictability of human reactions.
“You’re not in a controlled environment; you don’t know how someone is going to react, you don’t know if someone has PTSD or if someone has anger management issues,” the shopper said. “So you do have to be careful when you are interacting with strangers.”
Investigation Status
As of now, the incident remains under investigation. WRAL has reached out to Home Depot for a comment and is waiting to hear back.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Home Depot, Cary |
| Reported By | Woman (daughter of the targeted man) |
| Researcher | Dr. Alice Cheng, NC State |
| Police Department | Cary Police Department |
| Status | Under investigation |
