- ♪ I'm a new soul ♪ ♪ I came to this... ♪
- Oh. Oh! - At what point does it become
non-creative because you're just doing something mean?
♪ (ragtime intro) ♪
- (Dua Lipa) Mwah. ♪ If you don't like
the way I talk ♪ ♪ Then why am I on your mind? ♪
- Well, he liked it. And she's like, "What did I do?"
I guess. - Oh. (chuckles) That's lovely.
- ♪ You'll still love me... ♪ - What did I just watch?
- Not funny at all. - Oh, Jesus! All the slobbering.
- The hell was that all about? (chuckles)
- (girl) So, you guys... (volume increases) So, you guys...
- Oh, he's kind of making fun of her. - (girl) ...duet with me,
then I shout you out already. - (chuckles)
- (girl) Okay, you guys? So do that if you want a shoutout.
- Yeah, yeah. Yeah, he could say to her,
"A little louder, please." - (girl) ...if you want a shoutout.
- Okay. Get the microphone out of your mouth.
It will be clearer. So, obviously, we know
they're not in the same room together. - It's just confusing to me
how it could be from two different cameras
or two different whatever, but yet they're both interacting.
- (woman) Okay, so this kid made a duet with me,
and he pulled a gun like he's gonna shoot me.
- Oh, jeez. - (woman) Not cool.
I'm turning you in to the police. - (chuckles)
- (woman) Have a good day.
Spawn of Satan.
- I don't know, man. I'm just out in left field with this.
- (woman) Spawn of Satan. - (laughs) Okay. A feisty lady.
- What she is saying is clear. I'm not sure what's going on
on the other side. - (FBE) Before we show you any more,
do you have any idea what's going on here?
- I really don't. - (FBE) So, all these videos
came from TikTok, an app in the United States
that was formally known Musical.ly. Have you heard of Musical.ly?
- No. Uh... No, I don't think so.
- ♪ You ain't nothin' ♪ - (sings along) ♪ But a hound dog ♪
That's all I know.
- Musical.ly, I think we did a Musical.ly here.
- Work, work, work.
- (FBE) So, the premise of these memes is that someone will create
an original video using the app, and a different user,
often unbeknownst to the original uploader,
will create a response video using the left side of the screen
to respond that will play at the same time.
- Oh, I like that. I think that's neat.
- ("Miranda Sings") I don't know why everyone says that people
on Musical.ly have no talent. Are you kidding me?
We have to lip sync the song slow and fast.
Sometimes we have to blink our eyes fast and make them big.
So, what do you call that? - (laughs) That's not very nice.
- ("Miranda Sings") So, what do you call that?
- (chuckles) Okay. What do I call it? Crazy.
- The first person is asking for whatever response
people might offer. And I think that's very clever
just holding up the written ones.
♪ (soft piano music) ♪ - (Hazel) What?
- ("Augustus") I didn't say anything.
- (Hazel) Why are you looking at me like that?
- ("Augustus") Because you're beautiful.
- (chuckles)
- (Hazel) Oh my god.
- That's his butt. (laughs) - ("Augustus") I enjoy looking
at beautiful people. - Ohh.
He's saying, "Kiss my ass, buddy." - Well, the other one said,
"Kiss my ass." (chuckles) - That's a little funny,
because the one on the right
have no idea what they are really facing.
- ♪ I'm a new soul ♪ ♪ I came to this strange world ♪
♪ Hoping I could learn a bit 'bout how to give and take ♪
♪ I'm a, I'm a, I'm a ♪ ♪ (music tempo slows dramatically) ♪
- (laughs) - ♪ I'm a new soul ♪
♪ I came to this... ♪ - Oh. Oh!
- (chuckles)
That's gross.
- Okay. (chuckles) Oh god. That's just charming.
Okay, so I see that what was amusing has now become quite distasteful.
- That was funny. (chuckles) Very creative, that one.
- Ooh, bloody lips. Ugh. But creative.
- ("girl") Oh, you're with her now? Okay. I guess I'll just have
to show you what you're missing. - Ahh.
- Oh, now that's not very nice.
- (chuckles) "I'm glad I left" to somebody.
I guess they're saying they're glad they left her.
- Anything on here is on here forever.
And people can look up things. And I've heard people tell stories
about not getting a job because of something that they posted.
- ♪ Uh-oh ♪ ♪ Back to them ♪
♪ I lead the pack, so my back's to them ♪
♪ Yup, the queen's back ♪ ♪ What's happenin'? ♪
♪ Rerun 'bout to make these bitches rap again ♪
- So, this one is showing off her hair,
because that one doesn't have the hair.
- ♪ Uh-oh ♪ ♪ Back to them ♪
♪ I lead the pack... ♪ - Oh, god.
- ♪ Yup, the queen's back ♪ ♪ What's happenin'? ♪
♪ Rerun 'bout to make these bitches rap again ♪
- Ah, that's too mean. - The other one was sorta saying,
"Nyah, nyah, nyah." - Well, you know, I think the people
on the right wanna be noticed. They want people to see them.
There are always people around who are gonna criticize
everything you do. (chuckles)
So, that's what seems to be the pairing.
- I mean, when you think about doing it,
it's definitely a creative outlet, okay?
So, at what point does it become non-creative,
because you're just doing something mean?
- (FBE) So, those videos all came from using the duet feature
in the TikTok app, which allows users to post custom videos
that play on the left side of the screen
next to another video simultaneously, which the intention of being able
to collaborate with each other. - That feature offers
never-ending possibilities it seems to me.
- You could do it with a friend and do something really fun and clever.
- (FBE) But for some, they use it in the way that you just saw,
which is now part of a trend called "Ironic TikTok,"
where people will add to or even mock an original video
with their creation. So overall, what did you think of this trend?
- Well, to me, it wasn't funny. It takes more than a face
and an idea on a camera
to create or to answer to anything.
- Maybe kids like this kind of stuff. But I'm not a teenager reacting.
I'm an elder reacting. I just think it's kind of stupid.
- I like the concept of it. But I think that when it goes--
when it goes into mean-spiritedness and cruelty...
I just think we have enough
of that in the world without adding to it.
- It's a way get attention. Imagine you put up a video
and then you get to wait and see who responds to your video.
I think you get some kind of self-satisfaction from that.
- I kind of like it. There's always something
that could go negative real quick. But they could be creative.
And young kids have creative minds. - It's really interesting
and maybe some creative people could hook up this way.
I mean, you just don't know what will happen.
It's sort of the wild west of filmmaking.
- (FBE) So, more and more, people seem to be finding videos,
often of younger people, but also sometimes not,
that are using content to call out things
that are awkward or cringeworthy or how bad they are,
like some were doing here.
We're even making a reaction video right now
to what's been happening. And some people find this alarming
and not right, while other pay say it's okay,
because the original people posted the videos
and put themselves out there. - Yeah.
- If it's posted, you can react to it.
- (FBE) This type of reaction content happens not just on TikTok,
but also on YouTube, Twitter, and other sites with video.
So, what do you think about people who make reaction and response videos
that are making fun of people directly?
- So far, I don't have a problem with it, because it is creativity.
It's self-expression, and it's people relating to each other.
- It's supposed to be for fun.
I think that we are drifting away from that.
Any good invention or technology, there will be people abusing it
in the wrong way. - It's a new platform for bullying.
It has happened to me (chuckles) when I put up a video.
So, it made me realize, you have to have tough skin.
- If the only way you can respond is in a negative way,
what does that say about your heart? Reacting is an opinion,
so you can't tell me not to feel something,
because it's how I feel. But if I hurt someone,
I certainly hope it's unintentional. And once I realize it,
I certainly hope I can be a big enough person
to apologize for it. - Bullying today can take
so many forms. I mean, I was bullied as a kid,
but today, you can bully so many different ways.
Parents should warn the kids if they're gonna post stuff
on the internet, that, you know, bad things could happen.
♪ (epic music) ♪
- (FBE) So finally, if you were to give a piece of advice
to the users on TikTok who wanted to make a duet,
how would you suggest they go about doing that?
- Don't. (chuckles) Why? What's the purpose?
- I think that the most important thing
is that it should be fun for everybody.
- I would say you could do it, but do it with a friend.
Do it with somebody you know.
- As long as you're not hurting anyone else,
as long as you're not naming anyone or shaming someone, you know,
I mean, give it a go if that's your thing.
- I would put more substance in there.
I would ask a more universal question,
something that's on the tips of a lot of people
on a given day. - You don't be too negative.
You don't actually hurt anyone. But be creative and have fun doing it.
Yeah, I like TikTok, actually, 'cause I'm a creator myself.
And maybe I could go there, too. But I wouldn't wanna hurt anyone.
- Thanks for watching this episode of Elders React.
- Shoutout to Luke Dodd and I am a nugget.
- If you wanna see more, subscribe and hit the bell.
- Goodbye! - Hey, guys! Ethan here from FBE.
And if you wanna check out our elders as well as the rest of our cast
eating crazy foods, playing games, and so much more,
you gotta check out the React Channel. Click on the link right over there.
Bye, guys.