Police investigate after social media trend inspires violent brawl in Kingaroy park

Sickening videos have exploded online of Queensland teens brutally bashing each other for internet glory, with charges likely and participants suffering injuries as police say “it’s not worth the five minutes of fame”.

Teenagers are becoming wrapped up in a sickening online trend that encourages young people to film themselves in violent brawls before posting the videos to dedicated social media pages.

Kingaroy police officer-in-charge David Tierney said this type of viral videos were a growing problem, with the most recent fight taking place at Memorial Park on Saturday.

An online video that is now in the hands of police shows two teenage girls punching each other while half a dozen onlookers watched and filmed the violent event.

The consensual fight escalated into a brawl when one of the girls encouraged others to show up and the surging crowds turned on each other.

“It’s like a fight club, but not quite so secret,” Senior Sergeant Tierney said.

“Kids are becoming involved in consensual fights and then making tit-for-tat complaints when they lose.

“It’s part of that social media craze – kids fighting with each other then uploading to sites that promote it.”

Fight sites have popped up right across the region, depicting both adults and students brawling as crowds of onlookers watch on and film. Photo/cbg.fights4605

In one instance, the girls involved made complaints against each other, with police likely to charge both with public nuisance offences since the fighting occurred in a public park, Sergeant Tierney said.

“It’s all driven by social media,” he said.

“Just like how people try and replicate stupid things on motorbikes and skateboards, they’ll copy whatever is going viral.”

Social media accounts dedicated to sharing and watching fights have popped up right across the region, depicting both adults and students brawling as crowds of onlookers watch on and film.

The Kingaroy sites have since been taken down, but multiple accounts in Cherbourg and Murgon are still active.

One of the teenagers involved in Saturday’s brawl suffered a bruised eye as a result of the fight, but Sergeant Tierney said there was a very real risk of more serious injury.

“Don’t do it, it’s not worth to five minutes of fame,” he said.

“These types of things can always lead to further injuries.”