SMASH OR PASS VIDEO CAUSES STIR

MBABANE – Smash or pass. A game recorded on video and posted on YouTube caused a stir on social media in the past week and its popularity has spread across the country like fire in the Amazon forests. 

Smash or pass is a game where ‘smash’ stands for ‘yes, I would sleep with them, have sex, if I had I chance’ and ‘pass’ is for ‘no, I rather not sleep with then, have sex if I had a chance’. 

It is often used as a comment, especially smash when someone hot walks by. 

Its origins are unknown and it has grown popular on different social media platforms. 

Disclaimer

However, the two young women made a disclaimer at the start of the video that this did not necessarily mean that they would act on what they were saying on the video. 

Monday became a very busy day on the Tini Twitter streets as a conversation based on two local YouTubers erupted. 

Tini Twitter is a slang word coined by local users of the app to differentiate and promote local content. 

Collaborating

The vloggers, who are two young ladies collaborating on trendy topics, caused a stir when the over 30 minutes conversation centred on the looks of different young men, whom they would say in the video that they would hook up with or pass on them. 

What initially began as an innocent and fun game, as stated by one of the YouTubers, quickly turned to controversy as some of the people named in the video started a conversation about it on Twitter.

Some of the faces which appeared in the vlog are well-known players in the local media and entertainment scene. 

Bullying

Users of the social media platforms did not mince their words as they stated their stances on the issue; with some saying it was a form of cyber bullying, while some wished they would have  been named because of the innocence in it. 

It is worth noting that this video comes at a time when the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology proposed a Cyber Crime Bill of 2013. Under Section 21, (1), the Bill states that a person, who intentionally and without lawful excuse or justification initiates any electronic communication, with intention to coerce, intimidate, harass or cause substantial emotional distress to a person using a computer system to support severe, repeated and hostile behaviour, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine. 

Since the video started trending on the popular streaming channel, it had garnered over 10 000 views and 83 comments at the time of going to print. 

Speaking to the Entertainment Desk, the vlogger said she honestly did not think any harm would be caused by the video as she did not expect it to blow up the way it did. 

Personal

“It was not meant to make anyone feel offended about themselves as I also did say at the beginning of the video that there was nothing personal in the video,” she said. 

Through all the feedback she has received about the video, she shared that she was glad that not all the views were negative both from the people named in the video as well as the public at large.

The vlogger, whose name is known to the publication, but goes by La Dludlu, said she started the channel during the lockdown and her intentions were positive about it as  she hoped it would be different from what other YouTubers were sharing.   

Apologetic

She also highlighted that she was apologetic about the views expressed on the video, however, she was hopeful that with the controversy it brought, other vloggers would be encouraged to break barriers and get out of their comfort zone. 

“Other countries do the same and they get recognised for pulling in numbers to the content they create,” she said.

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