‘The strategy is to humiliate’: influencers and the ethics of ‘rage-bait machine’ street interviews

Key points

• Emma Carson says a content creator from Bird Flip approached her in Adelaide's Rundle Mall and questioned her about abortion without her realising she was being recorded. Experts say some influencers use street interviews as rage bait to humiliate people and boost clicks.
• Flinders University researchers say the format raises ethical concerns and can generate money for creators. UNSW privacy researcher David Vaile says the practice may breach surveillance, privacy, defamation and harassment laws.
• Elspeth Mackellar did not respond to a request for comment.