The TikTok "flip-camera" trend — where teens ask strangers to hold phones reversed and then flip the camera to film them — has drawn criticism as a form of cyberbullying. Critics say many targets appear trusting and unaware, then face ridicule once clips are posted. Health agencies and anti-bullying resources warn the practice can exploit power imbalances; viewers have reported videos and urged creators to obtain consent and consider emotional harm. Experts advise parents and schools to watch for bullying signs and report harmful content.
TikTok "Flip-Camera" Trend Faces Backlash — Critics Call It Bullying
The TikTok "flip-camera" trend — where teens ask strangers to hold phones reversed and then flip the camera to film them — has drawn criticism as a form of cyberbullying. Critics say many targets appear trusting and unaware, then face ridicule once clips are posted. Health agencies and anti-bullying resources warn the practice can exploit power imbalances; viewers have reported videos and urged creators to obtain consent and consider emotional harm. Experts advise parents and schools to watch for bullying signs and report harmful content.
04:42 AM, 11/13/2025Society
TikTok "Flip-Camera" Trend Faces Backlash — Critics Call It Bullying
A TikTok trend circulating among teenagers — often called the "flip-camera" challenge — has sparked widespread criticism, with many viewers saying the clips amount to bullying and public shaming.
The videos typically show a group of teens performing a dance or routine and asking a classmate or stranger to hold a phone with the rear camera facing away to record. While the person holding the phone obliges, one of the dancers quickly flips the phone to restart the front-facing camera and capture the unsuspecting individual. Those clips are then posted online, often without the filmed person's knowledge or consent.
"That's disgusting. Nine times out of 10, that person looks like the sweetest, kindest, most innocent human being... That person agreed to hold the camera to be kind, not to get bullied online," wrote TikTok user hhyy1037.
Many commenters have expressed alarm that the people captured in these videos—often appearing quiet, friendly or introverted—become the subject of ridicule once clips are shared. Some viewers reported videos to the platforms and urged creators to consider the emotional harm caused by exposing private, unknowing people to public mockery.
Other TikTok users posted emotional reactions: its.jusninii shared a video of herself crying after seeing the trend, while eno_181 posted a screenshot of a student who appeared to sense he was being targeted, calling the clip heartbreaking.
Why critics call it bullying
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines bullying as unwanted aggressive behavior by one or more youths that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and is likely to be repeated. Bullying can include physical harm, name-calling, teasing, spreading rumors, exclusion and damaging property. When it occurs online, it is considered cyberbullying.
The CDC reports that cyberbullying complaints are highest among middle and high school students and that female students often report bullying more frequently than male students. Federal resources gathered at StopBullying.org note that many states require schools to respond to bullying reports and that laws increasingly include cyberbullying; for example, Alabama’s Jamari Terrell Williams Student Bullying Prevention Act directs state education officials to take steps to prevent bullying and explicitly expanded its definition to include cyberbullying in 2018.
Signs and steps to take
StopBullying.org lists warning signs parents and caregivers can watch for, including:
- Unexplained injuries
- Lost or damaged belongings
- Frequent headaches, stomachaches, or complaints of feeling sick
- Trouble sleeping or nightmares
- Declining grades or loss of interest in school
- Reluctance or refusal to go to school
If someone appears harmed by such a video, experts recommend checking in with them privately, reporting harmful content to the platform, and contacting school officials if the incident involves students. Content creators should obtain clear consent before posting footage of others and be mindful of the power dynamics at play.
Context and attribution
Some original coverage also referenced broader online trends and cultural notes. Reporting on this story was by Saleen Martin of USA TODAY's NOW team.
Takeaway: What some participants view as a prank can have serious emotional consequences for the people filmed without consent. Viewers, creators and schools are being urged to treat such clips as potential cyberbullying and to prioritize respect and consent online.