A live broadcast on social networking sites, in which a young man was physically assaulted, attracted the attention of the police in Chisinau. The incident, which occurred on February 18, turned out to be a set-up, organized by a group of young people to get audience and likes online. According to the authorities, instead of popularity, they got fines, IPN reports.

The police identified seven young people involved, aged between 15 and 20. Subsequently, they admitted that the scene of violence was staged and that the main purpose was to attract attention on social media.

However, the teenagers' gesture did not remain without consequences. Six of them were penalized for hooliganism, and the parents of the 15-year-old minor were fined for the neglect of the child. Also, the guardianship authorities were notified of this case.

The police draw attention to the dangers of promoting such behaviors online. Specialists point out that such images can encourage violence and contribute to the spread of bullying. Parents are urged to talk to children about the impact of their actions in the virtual space and about the risks posed by such gestures.