In January, Trend Hunter covered a trend called the Democritization of Daredevils, which pionted out the rise in kids filming stunts for YouTube.
One of the more recent extreme sports is train surfing. A young Dane, Martin Harris (21), took up the sport and has been posting his videos on YouTube, known as HawisS. That is, until last night.
While joining some friends on the way home from a soccer game in Herning, Denmark, they took the train. Harris decided to surf the train home but on the way the train went under a tight viaduct, too tight to survive. The body of Harris was first discovered on the roof of the train by a driver passing a bridge over the train.
This is another sad example of the dark effects of the extreme video culture on the Internet, where youngsters get themselves killed while trying some "cool" stunts they saw on YouTube. Now he is a nominee for the Darwin Awards. Nothing cool about that.
Below is a video Harris shot of him self train surfing last month.
Train Surfing
Danish YouTube Daredevil Gets Smashed
Trend Themes
1. Extreme Video Culture - Opportunity for platforms that promote safe and responsible stunts while still capitalizing on the desire for thrilling content.
2. Rise of Dangerous Stunts on Social Media - Potential for safety-focused organizations to educate and raise awareness about the risks associated with dangerous online challenges.
3. Democritization of Extreme Sports - Innovation in protective gear and equipment to increase safety and accessibility of extreme sports for enthusiasts.
Industry Implications
1. Video Sharing Platforms - Opportunity to implement stricter guidelines and safety measures to protect users from dangerous content.
2. Safety Education and Awareness - Potential for organizations to develop educational campaigns and initiatives to inform users about the risks associated with dangerous online challenges.
3. Extreme Sports Equipment - Market for companies to design and produce safer equipment and gears to mitigate risks associated with extreme sports.