Why fake AI videos of UK urban decline are taking over social media

AI-generated fake videos showing absurd scenes of urban decline in Croydon, London are going viral on social media, with millions of views across TikTok and Instagram Reels. These deepfakes (AI-created videos that look real but are fabricated) are part of a trend called "decline porn" that portrays Western cities as overrun with immigrants and crime, often fueling racist comments and anger among viewers who believe them. The creator, known as RadialB, intentionally makes the videos look realistic to grab attention and doesn't take responsibility for how they spread divisive political narratives, despite adding small labels noting they are AI-generated.