General · 21 February 2026
Creator fakes viral Croydon decline videos for views
A social media user known as RadialB is using artificial intelligence to produce viral clips showing invented urban decay in south London. The creator, a man in his 20s from north-west England, confirmed he has never actually visited the Croydon neighbourhood. These misleading posts, including one receiving eight million views in a single day, have triggered numerous copycat accounts and racist reactions among viewers.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs