Bullying sadly remains a harsh reality for many kids. But what if you witnessed a child being bullied? Would you step in to help? That’s the question Matt Bendeira, known for YouTube’s MattTV, aimed to answer. He conducted a hidden camera social experiment to see if bystanders would intervene when witnessing bullying.
In the video’s description, Bendeira explained his intent: “Last time I filmed a video with a boy being bullied. I decided to conduct the very same social experiment but this time I wanted to see how people would react if they saw a girl being bullied in public. The results were surprising!”
The video unfolds with two girls approaching another girl who is alone, taunting her and tossing her backpack back and forth. The on-screen statistic “70.6 percent of students say they have seen bullying in their schools” sets the stage for the experiment. Viewers learn that the scenario was filmed to gauge reactions to a girl being bullied, following a prior experiment involving a boy.
As the bullying unfolds, different bystanders react. One couple on a bench witnesses the bullying and intervenes, urging the bullies to stop and offering support to the victim. Another woman, seated alone, swiftly stands up to confront the bullies, emphasizing the importance of treating everyone with respect and kindness. In each scenario, bystanders step in to defend the victim and admonish the bullies for their behavior.
The experiment showcases the power of bystander intervention in combating bullying, emphasizing the importance of standing up for others and promoting empathy and kindness in our communities.