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Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Surge in serial killer baby names as dark 2025 parenting trend emerges
According to new data from BabyCentre, parents to be are putting aside the traditional baby name books in favour of a much darker source of inspiration - true crime Throughout history, parents -to-be have found inspiration for baby names from a variety of sources, from great kings and queens to beloved relatives. Now, mums and dads have found inspo in a bloody yet undeniably popular genre - true crime. To quote William Shakespeare, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet." It's unlikely, however, that The Bard was at that time considering that people would one day be naming their daughters after the notorious serial killer, Rose West. And Rose isn't the only name creeping into the charts. We humans have arguably long had a taste for the morbid and macabre, and a host of gripping crime documentaries and shocking podcasts are now accessible at the click of a button. And it would seem that some baby name choices are settling into our subconscious, alongside plenty of nightmares. While announcing its Top 100 Baby Names of 2025, BabyCentre UK noted a new trend towards crime-related picks, which may well come as a surprise. Intriguingly, as explained by experts, you may well have picked up a liking for a serial killer's name without even realising it, with chart-dominating listens making the monikers impossible to forget. BabyCentre UK's Baby Naming Expert, and author, SJ Strum, revealed: 'These names aren't being chosen because of crime. More often, parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep into our minds via gripping TV, podcasts and viral content. It's a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names.' True Crime-inspired names featured in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names for 2025 are as follows: Anna – The 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey Arthur – Zodiac Killer suspect, Arthur Lee Allen, Bella – Inspired by wellness scammer, Belle Gibson, Erin – Erin Patterson, dubbed The Mushroom Killer Freddie & Rose – The story of serial killer couple Fred and Rose West, featured recently in a Netflix doc Joseph – A nod to 'Joe Exotic', Tiger King Luca – From the shocking documentary Don't F** with Cats Teddy – A soft spin on serial killer Ted Bundy Ruby – From viral doc 'Devil in the Family', Ruby Franke Ronnie & Reggie – As in the notorious London gangsters, the Kray twins Meanwhile, in quite literally much lighter news, celestial baby girl names are also on the rise, with names such as Luna, Nova, Aurora and Maryam lighting up the charts amid fascination with all things lunar cycles and astrology.
Daily Record
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Killer baby names is the 2025 trend that nobody saw coming
Could your favourite Netflix docuseries or true crime drama be inspiring your baby name shortlist? True crime is a huge genre of non-fiction work right now. From documentaries and TV series to podcasts, crimes are examined in detail, including the actions of the people associated with and affected by the incident. A deep-dive may also be conducted into the perpetrator's motives. True crime content has been dominating streaming charts and podcast playlists for years, and is more popular than ever. However, its influence may be spreading further than we think - and in an unnerving way. Names linked to infamous criminal cases, true crime celebrities, and viral scandals are trending. In short, parents are turning to cult documentaries and chilling podcasts for baby name inspiration, and they might not even realise it. BabyCentre UK's Baby Naming Expert, said. "Parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep in to our minds via gripping TV, podcasts, and viral content. It's a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names." True Crime-inspired names in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names making headlines (and head counts) in 2025 are: Anna – The 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey Arthur – Arthur Lee Allen, Zodiac Killer suspect Bella – Inspired by Belle Gibson, wellness scammer Erin – Erin Patterson, dubbed 'The Mushroom Cook' Freddie & Rose – The story of Fred and Rose West Joseph – A nod to 'Joe Exotic', Tiger King Luca – From the viral doc 'Don't F*** with Cats' Teddy – A surprisingly soft spin on serial killer Ted Bundy Ruby – From viral doc 'Devil in the Family', Ruby Franke Ronnie & Reggie – The Kray twins "Baby names often serve as a time capsule of the world babies are born into," Faye Mingo, at BabyCentre, said. "So it's fascinating to watch how these trends unfold each year. And even more so when unexpected influences, like true crime, begin to make an impact." But it's not all crime and consequence. Inspired by the rise of high-society TV dramas like Succession and The White Lotus, today's parents are leaning towards timeless name nobility. We're seeing a resurgence of names that carry aristocratic weight, exuding elegance, heritage, and lasting sophistication, according to BabyCentre UK. Think names that wouldn't be out of place on a trust fund registry or a marble family crest. These aren't just names - they're legacy statements for the next generation. Succession Chic names rising this year include: Amelia - Striving Ada – Nobility Alice – Noble Aria – Noble Melody Elodie – Wealth Freya - Lady Gianna – Gracious Penelope - Weaver Zara – Princess/Lady Albie - Noble Eli – Ascension Ibrahim – Father of many Nathanial – God has given Otis - Fortune Reuben – Behold a son Rory – Red King Sebastian – Revered Theodore – Gift "We often choose names in tune with what's happening in the world around us as we welcome our little ones," SJ Strum went on. "For example, Evie, the newest addition to Peppa Pig's family, is a perfect short and sweet vintage pick that's now soaring in popularity. "We've also seen an uplift in names honouring the late Queen, like Eliza, Elsie, and Elizabeth. Royal -inspired names remain strong year-on-year: from Charlotte, Zara, and Mia, to George, Harry, William, Charlie, and Archie. "Even Princess has seen a surprising comeback, as the nation rallied around Princess Kate during her recent cancer treatment." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Wales Online
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Parents accidentally picking serial killer names for their babies
Parents accidentally picking serial killer names for their babies Baby naming experts say dark popular culture is quietly influencing the top baby names of 2025 Parents are choosing dark names without even realising it in the top baby name trend of 2025 Parents are being inspired by true crime podcasts and cult documentaries when it comes to naming their babies in 2025, and many may not even know it - according to experts. BabyCentre UK has announced its Top 100 Baby Names of 2025, and found many of them are the names of people who have been featured in chilling podcasts and Netflix series. BabyCentre naming expert and author SJ Strum said: 'These names aren't being chosen because of crime. More often, parents are unconsciously absorbing popular culture, and these names creep into our minds via gripping TV, podcasts and viral content. It's a fascinating lens on how culture shapes language, and by extension, baby names.' True Crime-inspired names in BabyCentre's top 100 baby names making headlines in 2025 are: Anna – The 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey – The 'Fake Heiress' Anna Delvey Arthur – Arthur Lee Allen, Zodiac Killer suspect – Arthur Lee Allen, Zodiac Killer suspect Bella – Inspired by Belle Gibson, wellness scammer – Inspired by Belle Gibson, wellness scammer Erin – Erin Patterson, dubbed 'The Mushroom Cook' – Erin Patterson, dubbed 'The Mushroom Cook' Freddie & Rose – The story of Fred and Rose West – The story of Fred and Rose West Joseph – A nod to 'Joe Exotic', Tiger King – A nod to 'Joe Exotic', Tiger King Luca – From the viral doc Don't F** with Cats* – From the viral doc Don't F** with Cats* Teddy – A surprisingly soft spin on serial killer Ted Bundy – A surprisingly soft spin on serial killer Ted Bundy Ruby – From viral doc 'Devil in the Family', Ruby Franke – From viral doc 'Devil in the Family', Ruby Franke Ronnie & Reggie – The Kray twins And it isn;'t just factual TV and audio providing inspiration. Inspired by the rise of high-society TV dramas like Succession and The White Lotus, there is a resurgence of names that carry aristocratic weight. Think Elodie, Nathaniel, Zara, and Sebastian. Succession Chic names rising this year include: Article continues below Girl's Names: Amelia - Striving Ada – Nobility Alice – noble Aria – Noble Melody Elodie – wealth Freya - Lady Gianna – gracious Penelope - Weaver Zara – Princess/Lady Boy's Names: Albie - Noble Eli – Ascension Ibrahim – Father of many Nathanial – God has given Otis - Fortune Reuben – Behold a son Rory – Red King Sebastian – Revered Theodore – Gift Beyond the world of murder, scams and other crime parents are looking to the heavens for baby name inspiration this year. Celestial baby girl names are soaring in popularity. Names like Luna, Nova, Aurora and Maryam are booming. Cosmic-inspired girl's names trending in 2025: Arabella – Beautiful like a star – Beautiful like a star Ayla – Moonlight – Moonlight Aurora – Goddess of the dawn – Goddess of the dawn Eliana – Helios sun god – Helios sun god Layla – Night beauty – Night beauty Luna – Moon – Moon Maryam – Start of the sea – Start of the sea Nova – New star – New star Nur – Light – Light Thea – Goddess of light And while letters X, Y and Z may be at the back of the alphabet, this year, they've leapt to the front of the Baby Naming Charts. Girls' Names: Anaya – Free Ayra – Noble Emily - Rival Hazel – Hazelnut Maya – Mother Robyn – Bright Ruby - Red Zoe – Life Boys' Names: Dylan – Of the sea Enzo – Home ruler Ezra – Helper Max – Greatest Syed – Lord Yahya – Gracious Zane - Beauty Zion – Highest place Article continues below SJ Strum said: 'Names flow in and out of style, and popular culture plays a huge role in shaping the baby names we see rising. We often choose names in tune with what's happening in the world around us as we welcome our little ones. For example, Evie, the newest addition to Peppa Pig's family, is a perfect short and sweet vintage pick that's now soaring in popularity. 'We've also seen an uplift in names honouring the late Queen, like Eliza, Elsie, and Elizabeth. Royal-inspired names remain strong year-on-year: from Charlotte, Zara, and Mia, to George, Harry, William, Charlie, and Archie. Even Princess has seen a surprising comeback, as the nation rallied around Princess Kate during her recent cancer treatment.' Faye Mingo, Chief Marketing Officer at BabyCentre, said: 'Baby names often serve as a time capsule of the world babies are born into, so it's fascinating to watch how these trends unfold each year, and even more so when unexpected influences, like true crime, begin to make an impact.'
New York Times
02-04-2025
- New York Times
Their Influencer Parents Used Them as Content. Are They Being Used Again Now?
In the video, we see a boy walk up a shaded front patio in Ivins, Utah. He is 12 but appears younger; his thighs are sticks, his knees knobby. After ringing the doorbell, he retreats toward the street, and by the time the door opens, he is almost out of view, swallowed up in sunlight. 'I was wondering if you could do two favors?' he asks. 'Taking me to the nearest police station? Well, actually, just one's fine.' Before the Washington County Attorney's Office released this August 2023 doorbell-camera footage to the press, it blurred the boy's face — an unsurprising choice, as the video depicts a minor who was the victim of a crime. But the boy's identity was already well known online. Fans had been watching him and his five siblings since he was a toddler on '8 Passengers,' the YouTube channel of his mother, Ruby Franke, which at its height had more than two million subscribers and brought in as much as $100,000 a month. His escape from a house owned by Jodi Hildebrandt — a counselor and life coach whose teachings Franke subscribed to — made national news. Franke and Hildebrandt had abused Franke's two youngest children, denying them food and water and binding them with rope; each was charged with six counts of felony aggravated child abuse and, six months later, sent to prison for up to 30 years. The Hulu documentary 'Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke' recounts this story, but it is striking that viewers never see Franke's younger son's face or hear his name. Whenever the boy appears in footage filmed by Franke and her husband at the time, Kevin, his face is blurred; if anyone says his name, not only is the audio censored, but mouths are blurred to prevent lip reading. The documentary similarly conceals the identities of the three other Franke children who are still minors. The only Franke children whose identities are not protected are the two oldest — Shari, 22, and Chad, 20 — who appear in interviews as well as videos and outtakes from the channel. 'Devil in the Family' is the second docuseries this year to adopt this approach. The other is HBO's 'An Update on Our Family,' about Myka and James Stauffer, an Ohio couple whose YouTube channels once had about one million subscribers. The Stauffers' viewership grew substantially in 2016 and 2017, as they posted a 27-video series detailing their adoption of a toddler from China, whom they renamed Huxley. Huxley soon became the channel's main character; the Stauffers even featured him in sponsored content, like a spot for Dreft baby detergent. But in May 2020, fans turned on the Stauffers when they revealed that they had dissolved Huxley's adoption because of their difficulty in managing his developmental disabilities. In 'An Update on Our Family,' every child's face is blurred. Huxley is altered even further: In a clip where Myka shares images of the boy at an orphanage in China, scribbled rotoscoping animation covers his face and body. He remains penciled out through the rest of the series — a visual echo of the way the Stauffers' own channels began to make videos of Huxley private before the couple announced that he was no longer their son. (He has since been adopted by another family.) The blurring is a gesture at restitution: In concealing the identities of these children, the documentarians are attempting the ex post facto application of a privacy that was stripped away long ago. But the gesture feels shallow. The Frankes and the Stauffers invited viewers into their children's most personal moments, from tantrums to puberty milestones; they grabbed attention with a mirage of idealized family life and profited handsomely. The documentaries expose the dark realities behind that mirage, with a similar goal. Ruby Franke and Myka Stauffer uploaded plenty of talking-head content narrating their lives, but what really drew viewers was their children. '8 Passengers' first went viral with a 2015 video titled 'BABY climbs out of crib!!!' depicting the youngest Franke child — the girl who would later be found emaciated in a closet — rappelling out of a lime green crib. The Frankes incorporated 8 Passengers Productions L.L.C. soon after. For seven years, their children's lives were ruled by feeding the YouTube algorithm. The documentary shows Ruby telling the children that they'll get $10 for each video they 'help with'; over footage of girls with blurred faces cleaning mirrors and baseboards, Shari explains how the home 'felt more like a set than a house.' 'An Update on Our Family' tries to think through the ethical dilemmas of monetizing someone's childhood this way. Toward the end, the journalist Stephanie McNeal, who wrote about the Stauffers for BuzzFeed News, talks about how such scandals might have prompted a broader discussion about family vlogging. Instead, she says, 'people just yelled about the Stauffers on the internet and sent death threats — which, OK, but that didn't help any other children. Let's put some laws into place. How can we make this safe for kids?' According to Shari Franke, you can't. 'I want to be clear that there is never, ever a good reason for posting your children online for money or fame,' she told the Utah Senate in testimony last October. 'There is no such thing as a moral or ethical family vlogger.' Three months later, Doug Owens, a Democrat who represents Salt Lake County, introduced a bill in the Utah House of Representatives that would establish protections for the children of content creators, requiring that parents who earn $150,000 a year or more from social media featuring their minor child set aside 15 percent of the child's earnings in a trust for the child to access upon turning 18. The legislation also includes a provision that children can have content featuring them removed from the internet when they reach adulthood — a step well beyond blurring their faces. Similar legislation has been signed into law in California and Illinois, but its introduction in Utah was significant: As Shari Franke explained in her testimony, the state is a hotbed of family content creation. In February, Kevin Franke also testified in support of the bill — though his remarks, too, suggested that it did not go far enough. 'Vlogging my family, putting my children into public social media, was wrong, and I regret it every day,' he said. He also read a statement from his 16-year-old daughter, detailing her experience of growing up on YouTube. 'You're selling your life, your privacy, your body and stories to the entire world,' she wrote. 'And as a child, you're involuntarily giving up all of that. You're selling your childhood.' The bill passed, and it was signed into law on March 25. 'Devil in the Family' has nothing to say about such legislation, or the broader ethical hazards of family influencing; it is focused on Ruby Franke's individual acts of evil, collecting behind-the-scenes footage of how poorly she treated her children. For years, people turned to this channel, and others, for intimate glimpses into how other families lived; they became invested in the daily lives of the children they watched growing up onscreen. Those children's faces might be blurred this time, but they still serve as content: People want to know what happened to them. The blurs and scribbles of 'An Update on Our Family,' too, hint that the team behind the series struggled with how to tell Huxley's story without doing much the same thing his adoptive parents did. The attempt to excise all these children from footage already watched by millions suggests a queasy truth: We shouldn't have seen them in the first place.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Stream Sniping' Has Become a Nightmare for IRL Creators — But What Is It?
On March 2, three popular women Twitch streamers — Rachel 'Valkyrae' Hofstetter, Brittany 'Cinna' Watts, and Emily 'Emiru' Schunk — were accosted by a man who appeared to be a fan of theirs during a live stream at the Santa Monica Pier. After one of the women denied his request for her phone number, he seemingly followed them as they neared the exit before lunging at them and yelling, 'I'll kill you right now.' The women screamed for security and fled before the stream cut to a holding screen. Many believe what happened to the women was an example of 'stream sniping,' a trend that involves viewers using visual clues to seek out content creators doing IRL (in real life) streams and attempting to get in the video, or, in extreme cases, harassing, threatening, or attacking a streamer. More from Rolling Stone Harassment, Stalkers, Death Threats: A Day in the Life of Women on Twitch 'Devil in the Family': What We Learned From the Ruby Franke Docuseries Saxsquatch, the Bigfoot Who Blasts on Saxophone, Will Save Your Sanity And while women streamers are more prone to harassment, stream sniping affects people across the spectrum. Last year, Darren 'iShowSpeed' Watkins, Jr. was mobbed by a massive crowd of Norwegian fans while broadcasting live in the streets of Oslo. In August 2024, popular political streamer Hasan 'Hasanabi' Piker was live from an Uber when a car pulled up next to him and appeared to ask the driver, 'Is Hasan with you?' 'Bro, just keep going,' Piker urged the driver of the vehicle he was in. 'That's fucking insane.' For women, stream sniping can often come with an added layer of concern, and rightfully so: In January 2023, Japanese streamer Shibuya Kaho took to X (formerly Twitter) to say she was 'scared in so many ways' by her Twitch chat showing up at a train station after one of her IRL casts ended. 'They knew I was trying to catch my last train after streaming in Shizuoka,' she wrote. In December 2023, Twitch streamer Lydia 'lydiaviolet' was doing a holiday-themed IRL stream around London when a man in a hoodie began following her. 'What are you doing?,' she asked. 'I'm following orders,' he replied. She repeatedly tried to get away from him, suggesting he walk in one direction while she walked in the other. A week and a half after the incident with Valkyrae, Cinna, and Emiru, a Japanese streamer named Airi Sato, known for her IRL streams, was stabbed over 30 times in a busy Tokyo street by a man who reportedly told police that the content creator owed him money. The man allegedly figured out where Airi Sato was by following her live stream. Her attack was briefly caught on air; she was taken to a local hospital but died from her wounds. Stream sniping has become a more pervasive problem for both online and IRL streamers, but there are ways that creators can protect themselves when taking their broadcasts out into the real world. Stream sniping is when a viewer deliberately — and often maliciously — tries to insert themselves into a live stream to hijack, derail, or otherwise disrupt the experience. It's usually done virtually when creators play online multiplayer shooters (hence the term 'sniping'), with stream snipers either seeking out the person playing a game like Fortnite, or simply following a streamer around after realizing they're in the same game lobby. Since their POV is being live-streamed to an audience, it's easy for stream snipers to know where they might be on the virtual map, what kind of equipment they're carrying, what cosmetics they have on, and other identifying factors. In some instances, stream snipers just want to eliminate popular personalities in a given match, seeking them out to gun them down or otherwise mess with their chances of winning a game. In battle royale games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone, death is an immediate elimination, which can frustrate streamers trying to get exciting footage for their viewers — and there's nothing more exciting than a win. Sometimes, stream snipers are just looking to make a comedic impact. Félix 'xQc' Lengyel has 12 million followers on Twitch, and he's spent a lot of his time streaming Fortnite. He was famously plagued by a stream sniper known as Juul Trooper, who would wear a banana costume when seeking out Lengyel to kill him and then emote over his character's dead body, usually by playing the saxophone while the creator screamed with rage. Other times, stream snipers are also streamers themselves, using the tactic to make their own content. Content creator Spaiidz has several YouTube videos dedicated to stream sniping, with titles like 'I Stream Sniped Until He Gave Me VBucks' or 'I Stream Sniped Until He Gave Me His Account.' Successful stream snipers often share videos from their point of view, with clips of them targeting content creators often garnering millions of views on YouTube and elsewhere. Popular games like Call of Duty and Sea of Thieves have tools to help prevent stream sniping, like an ability to turn on 'Streamer Mode' that hides the player's real gamertag, or the option to hide a server name so bad actors can't log into a server to find them in-game. Stream sniping is a frustrating experience for those who are targeted, but it's a very different story when they are 'stream sniped' in real life. Though in-game stream sniping can range from funny to annoying, things can get dangerous when the practice transitions into the real world. There are plenty of examples of IRL stream snipers pulling fairly harmless pranks on streamers, like someone pulling up in a cab while Andy 'CookSux' streamed in South Korea to hand him several bags of food out of the window, or Jason 'jasontheween' Nguyen pretending to 'stream snipe' a fellow content creator and friend, Clix, running up to him mid-IRL stream. But then there is the kind of real-world stream-sniping that can be strange, sinister, or flat-out dangerous. Connor Marc Colquhoun, known online as 'ConnorDawg,' has 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube, and he often does IRL streams. In a January 2023 YouTube video, Colquhoun describes stream sniping, saying that it is 'kind of accepted to be okay,' before adding, 'it's a thing to do in streaming for some reason it doesn't really have a bad rep, as long as the person is normally cool.' But what if they aren't? 'There are some dangers,' he says in the video, referencing Shibuya Kaho's unnerving train station experience when she was approached after a stream. 'This is extremely concerning, especially considering that Kaho was streaming alone.' iShowSpeed is a content creator who often does IRL live streams on YouTube to his 36 million followers and is often targeted by stream snipers. During a massive global tour last year, Watkins, who did not respond to a request for comment, faced throngs of fans across Europe, culminating in a terrifying event in Oslo, Norway on July 3, 2024. As detailed in a video titled 'the scariest day of my life,' Watkins live-streamed while visiting a souvenir shop that was quickly surrounded by fans. 'I literally just got here, bro,' he said to the crowd waiting outside the shop. 'This is bad though. What the fuck? I just started my stream bro.' As he tried to leave, the crowd appeared to refuse to back away from the door. 'Stream canceled, I literally cannot go outside,' he said, before he was ushered into a back stairway to leave out of a different exit. Fans were waiting for him at that exit as well, chanting his name and appearing to grab him as he tried to leave. He doubled back into the building, visibly angry, hitting the walls with a novelty Thor-style hammer. He eventually called the Norwegian police, saying 'I am a YouTuber and I have 25 million subs. I am currently at this souvenir shop in Norway, and there are maybe around 1,000 to 2,000 people banging on the door. I need help to get out of this shop.' As he waited for the car to pick him up, he looked out at the crowd of people from a second-story window, begging them to leave, flipping them off, and eventually performing a spin move he invented called the 'Sewey,' which caused him to injure his ankle. 'I think I just broke my ankle,' he said, wincing. Just two months later, several thousand Singaporeans reportedly joined a Telegram channel in an attempt to stream snipe iShowSpeed during his tour of Southeast Asia. Though it never got as intense as his experience in Oslo, Watkins was met with huge crowds of fans as he walked down the famous Arab Street, with one challenging him to a footrace, another asking him to participate in the 'Smash or Pass' trend, and another gifting him a brand-new iPhone. On March 18, iShowSpeed announced he'll be doing a massive IRL stream in China, clearly undeterred by his experiences. It's difficult to prevent harassment, stalkers, and real-life stream snipers, but creators can do several things to make their IRL streaming somewhat safer. The common tactics suggested by fellow streamers or in community message boards include avoiding streaming in spaces with easily identifiable landmarks, street signs, addresses, or easily searchable businesses, and not showing the exterior areas near where you live, in case bad actors are attempting to discover your address. If you plan on streaming in more easily recognizable places, adding a delay to your broadcast can help thwart those trying to geolocate you. 'My very boring answer is that I don't tell people where I am live [streaming] unless there is some amount of security involved. There really isn't a safe way for people with followings to do that,' Twitch streamer jorbs told me on BlueSky. 'I don't think it's safe to be in person with people with security involved either, but people have different amounts of risk tolerance.' Justin 'SJC' Schainberg has been streaming since 2008. He often streams daily IRL vlogs of his life walking around Hollywood Boulevard or attending protests, and tells Rolling Stone that he feels like the format is the best way for him to express himself. 'The selfie stick is my paintbrush and the world is my canvas,' he says. 'I search for moments that are impossible to duplicate, and the fact that I catch it at that moment is pure art to me.' Though he's been lucky enough to avoid 'toxic' people on his IRL streams, for those taking it up, he offers some advice: 'Be aware of your surroundings,' he says. 'A lot of it is thinking on your own, 20 steps ahead.' John Phipps, a former Marine and combat veteran with experience providing physical security for individuals at public events like PAX East, tells Rolling Stone that streamers should 'always stream within eyesight and earshot of public gatherings.' Public-facing events are less likely to be targeted by bad actors, and even if they are, there would be plenty of eyewitnesses or people to help in case something happened. Women, in particular, should be on alert. 'Sucks that I have to say this, but if you're a woman I'd advise having physical security within 30 feet, and make sure they advertise their presence,' Phipps says. 'Eighty percent of people will be immediately deterred by the presence of physical security.' If a bad actor is not deterred by security and approaches you, there are steps you can take. 'Instruct your security to prevent contact and physically remove [the person approaching you] from your space,' he says. 'If this isn't possible, have your security escort you from the area. Don't engage physically or verbally.' But security is a luxury most Twitch streamers cannot afford. Phipps has suggestions for those streamers who can't foot such a lofty bill, and it involves taking safety into their own hands. 'If you don't have or can't afford physical security, be armed,' he says, suggesting non-lethal protective devices like mace or a Taser. But avoid firearms. 'I'm usually a proponent of vulnerable people concealed carrying, but if you're going to be streaming in a public venue and you're not trained I'd strongly advise against pulling a firearm.' For Valkyrae, whose IRL stream turned scary in the blink of an eye, she'll never go live without being prepared again. She posted on X on March 5, 'I always over confidently imagined I would be able to defend myself and others,' but the way that she and the other two women were accosted made her reconsider. 'I'll never be out without a taser/pepper gun ever again, I'll never joke about being strong enough to handle being attacked again, and I'll always take threats like this seriously.' Best of Rolling Stone Every Super Bowl Halftime Show, Ranked From Worst to Best The United States of Weed Gaming Levels Up
