A video by content creator Harj Gahley has gone viral, sparking widespread debate over an influencer’s controversial video, which some have labeled as satire, on how 12-year-olds can begin online gambling. The video has drawn significant criticism, with many calling for the influencer to be banned, while others defend it as satire.
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The debate began after Gahley shared a video on Instagram, where he criticized the influencer’s content, which portrays gambling as an appealing and accessible activity for young children. Gahley’s post, which has garnered over 360,000 views and nearly 4,500 likes, highlighted the potential dangers such content poses to impressionable minds. He expressed concern over how social media influencers, who are often paid to promote a glamorous “Vegas” lifestyle, can normalize and glamorize gambling for children as young as 12.
Gahley urged parents to be vigilant about the content their children consume, emphasizing the negative influence such videos can have on young viewers. “Suddenly it’s ‘cool’. Children as young as 12 are being influenced by celebrities and social media influencers who are generously paid to show that the ‘vegas’ lifestyle seems safe, normal, fun, and cool. If you are a parent or have young children, YOU should be concerned,” Gahley wrote in his post.
The viral video has led to a flurry of comments on Instagram, with users expressing mixed reactions. One user stated, “He should be sued for saying this kind of nonsense!” echoing the sentiments of many others who believe the influencer’s content is harmful.
However, some defended the video as satire, arguing that it is the responsibility of parents to teach their children the difference between reality and humor. “A 12-year-old would not see this as satire; they would be influenced,” one user commented, highlighting the potential risk of younger audiences taking the content seriously.
Another user acknowledged the satirical nature of the video but pointed out the growing issue of online gambling among children. “He’s being facetious, it looks, BUT GAMBLING IS A HUGE THING FOR KIDS TODAY. With the internet—the laws aren’t being enforced. Promoting and providing gambling for kids is becoming more and more popular,” they wrote.
Some commentators shifted the focus back to parental responsibility. One user remarked, “It’s a joke, if your child is slow in the brain to the point they believe and do what he said, then I think the parents should maybe do a better job parenting.” Another added, “It can feel so frightening what kids have access to at their fingertips. As a parent, you might also fear how friends are influencing your kids, how books are influencing your kids, how school is influencing your kids—but ultimately, as a parent, you have the biggest influence, if they have a strong enough connection with you.”
Harj Gahley, who has over 4,300 followers on Instagram and nearly 750 posts, is the Managing Director of the Gambling Support Project, an organization dedicated to helping those affected by gambling issues. His viral video has intensified discussions about the role of influencers in shaping young minds and the responsibilities of both content creators and parents in navigating this complex landscape.