From November 2004 to December 2007, America was enthralled by a particularly sinister reality television phenomenon, To Catch a Predator. By pretending to be kids aged 12-15, the hidden camera show aimed to catch predators luring children online and entice them to houses under the pretence of sex. Then, before the predator was able to attack, series host Chris Hansen would appear from another room, read printouts of the graphic messages the predator had sent to who they thought was a child, and then let them leave the house to a barrage of police officers waiting to arrest them outside. Despite its popularity, the show was cancelled amid heat over potential violations of entrapment laws and general moral criticism after one of the targets committed suicide. The show is still noted to this day for its seediness and the problematic nature of the sting operations.
While cult fans of the show have yearned for the high drama series to return, it has in one way risen again in possibly the worst format possible – as YouTube prank channel predator setups. Prankster YouTubers are now taking on social justice as a cause of their own, following in the steps of Chris Hansen himself by going after child predators with zero police involvement or any legal qualifications.
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