Whether you’re in Washington Square Park, Times Square or on a college campus, no location is too bizarre to avoid having a stranger shove a microphone in your face and bombard you with one of the following questions:
“What’s your body count?”
“Rate yourself on a scale from 1-10”
“What song are you currently listening to?”
“How much do you pay for rent in New York City?”
“Would you like [insert ‘x’ number of items] or would you like to double it and give it to the next person?”
Street interviews, or man-on-the-street, swarm through social media and real-life locations. It’s not surprising that New York City’s Washington Square Park and college campuses are the frequently filmed backdrops for these interviews. What’s Poppin? With Davis! and the infinite number of videos quizzing Harvard and other college students are clear indicators that young people enjoy watching their own demographic. With unique and differing casts in each video, viewers are mystified by strangers’ opinions.
Despite the seemingly innocent filming of the general public in man-on-the-street videos, the question of consent and intrusiveness comes into play with the way these interviews are conducted. Street interviewers disrupt another person’s life —they target someone, enter their space and shove a camera and microphone into their face while firing off questions that can occasionally be very intimate. While some interviewers may come up to individuals and ask them off camera for their consent, famous Tik Tok street interviewer Davis from What’s Poppin? is known for running up to people and immediately bombarding them with a question. This tactic targets individuals, giving them no time to think or consent to being interviewed. Moreover, the interviewer, microphone and camera pressure them into answering their questions on a whim.
In addition to filming and interviewing subjects without their consent, these creators don’t allow their interviewees to see or approve the final product before it’s publicized on the internet. Oftentimes, they’ll use sensationalized titles as clickbait, which, more often than not, poke fun at their co-stars. For instance, YouTuber Flecca Talks’ most popular videos are “INSANE: Young Americans Don’t Know ANYTHING!” and “HUMILIATING: Gen-Z Can’t Answer the Most Basic Questions.” These degrading video titles intend to frame their subjects in an unflattering light, making them subject to mockery, ridicule and critique from strangers. These interviews do not demonstrate someone’s holistic intelligence, as the subjects are put under pressure with little time to think. Not only do street interviews commercialize people’s opinions and stories, but they also create an opportunity for the interviewer to unfairly slander and manipulate the interviewee’s image without their consent.
Furthermore, interviewers often ask invasive questions for mere shock factor. The popular “What’s your body count?” question demands strangers to divulge their sexual history. In a video titled “Girls reveal their body count Are these too high?!,” commenters claim the female interviewees are lying about their answers and are “for the streets,” a slang phrase that implies a person is fit for prostitution. Such intrusive questions predominantly target women, they exploit them and subject them to an onslaught of misogyny and slut-shaming.
However, when conducted correctly, street interviews can also spread positivity. They showcase everyday people, providing an authentic and relatable perspective on life to their viewers. Giving a voice to a diverse array of people helps to break down the preconceptions we might have based on their appearances. Street interviews can also contribute to a more tangible form of goodwill, some interviewers give their interviewees money and ask them to pay it forward. Creator Colby Martel’s videos spread positivity, he dares interviewees to call someone and tell them that they love them.
What differentiates good interviews from manipulative and exploitative interviews? Although David from Whats Poppin’ has been exemplified for his intrusive interview style, his infectiously positive energy is what ultimately makes him a good street interviewer. As The New York Times puts it, Davis “draws out his subjects with sharp follow-up questions and witty repartee. It’s like overhearing two Gen Z besties who just met.” His questions are unique, entertaining and light-hearted, creating a friendly atmosphere for individuals. In contrast, interviewers like Flecca Talks put individuals under pressure and scrutiny, humiliating them or asking intrusive questions. Good street interviewers have engaging personalities that can stand on their own and match their interviewees, promoting positive and engaging perspectives rather than repeating the same unoriginal and monotonous questions. Street interviews are a compelling form of media, but it takes the right street interviewer to keep them alive.
