In the world of social media, where content reigns and videos are shared faster than wildfire, it can be difficult to distinguish between truth and fiction. This was evident a few days ago in a viral TikTok video showing an “ankle bracelet” for children. The video sparked widespread concern and criticism. However, the true intentions behind it were far from what the majority suspected: it was actually a humorous joke by the creator.
The video, which has been viewed more than 18 million times on Twitter alone, began with a person picking up a product called My First ANKLE MONITOR from the shelf in a Walmart. This wasn't a simple Photoshop fake. Someone had actually invested time and effort into making this product out of plastic and bringing it to Walmart.
Ain't no way putting them kids on house arrest lmao pic.twitter.com/k85GvJ9TZg
— Lance🇱🇨 (@Bornakang) August 1, 2023
Critical information on the counterfeiting of the electronic ankle bracelet for children
The first clue to the scam was the logo. The red, white and blue logo in the top left corner was clearly that of Little Tikes, a popular toy manufacturer. But here it said “Little Yikes.” A joke that only becomes clear at second glance.
Further evidence emerged when the video showed the child being put on the wrong ankle bracelet. The person in the video explained that the bondage was “a godsend” and that they used law enforcement methods on children.
According to the video, the alleged app “Tike Tracker” is said to offer “great functions” to track the child and even administer electric shocks. Fortunately, we discovered that this product does not exist.
More from the fake product developer
The mastermind behind this unusual prank is a user named @legbootlegit , also known as Justin. He created the fake “product” together with artist @shampoooty. @shampoooty made the fake ankle bracelet, while @legbootlegit was responsible for both the packaging and the fake app.
If you look at @legbootlegit's page, you'll see that the "product" is not the only one of its kind. The site is peppered with satirical videos of counterfeit products. Some have even garnered so much attention that they were actually produced, like the Bugkiss .
@legbootlegit omg as a parent I'm finally getting a good night's sleep 😭 tysm #toddlersoftiktok #parenting #wow #longervideos #confessions ♬ right where you left me – bonus track – Taylor Swift
Another example was a video from last year that showed a fake Snoop Dogg hot dog brand called Glizzles My Nizzles .
The fascination of counterfeits
Creating fake content can be a fun way to provoke a reaction from the internet community. It requires creativity, wit and a good dose of cheek. Ankle bracelets have a long and curious history, dating back to the 1980s when the first electronic monitoring devices were introduced in the United States. Its roots lie in a series of Spider-Man comics from the 1970s.
| Claims | Fact check |
|---|---|
| There is an ankle bracelet for children that can show parents the location of their children. | False : The video showing this product was created as a joke. No such product exists. |
| The product was found on a Walmart shelf. | False : Although the video claims that the product was found in a Walmart, it is actually a prank. |
| There is an app called Tike Tracker that allows parents to track their children. | Wrong : There is no such app. This was part of the fake content of the viral video. |
| The brand “Little Yikes” exists and produces ankle bracelets for children. | False : “Little Yikes” is a parody of the real “Little Tikes” brand and does not make real products. |
Conclusion
Satire is a humorous form of expression that highlights social and political problems. In this case, the viral spread of the video raised awareness about critical thinking in the age of social media. It also taught us that not everything we see online should be taken at face value.
This incident shows the importance of always being skeptical and verifying information before sharing or acting on it. It also shows how quickly things can get out of hand in the digital world when humor and satire are misunderstood. It's a wake-up call for all of us to be a little more careful about what we see and share online.
Also read: The star tick bites: When dinner turns into allergy shock
If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:
📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.
Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!
* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

