@simonsaysdrip/X
What began as a man's strange idea has quickly turned into a new form of cruelty presented as internet entertainment. In Liaoning, China, a man filmed himself utilizing the hood of his SUV as an temporarily aquarium, filling it with live fish and crustaceans after apparently forgetting about a proper container. He essentially used plastic wrap to disc for the inside, then filled it with water, creating a shallow pool that sat directly over the engine compartment.
https://x.com/simonsaysdrip/status/1949191193339834813
The video went viral on Douyin, but many viewers were horrified, understanding that these animals ere y subject to extreme heat from both the sun and the car's engine; trapped in a small space, no filtration, no oxygen. But, this didn’t stop other people from also replicating the stunt, and now photos have made their way onto the internet via the hashtag #ChinaFishCar, with more again SUV hoods serving as makeshift fish tanks.
Local traffic police even deemed the vehicle unsafe for the road, advising that the modification was dangerous and against regulations. Authorities condemned others from taking it upon themselves to do the same; however, it is unclear whether any actual penalties were enforced.
The bigger issue is rooted in the systems we’ve built. Weak animal welfare laws and a culture that still sees these animals as novelty items/decorations for digital displays allows this sort of content to occur. This is not creativity but exploitation. Until there are stronger protections and society changes its mindset, we will continue to see animals suffer for the sake of views and “likes”.
This trend is a clear example of how social media still continues to normalize cruelty while simultaneously rewarding those who treat sentient beings as toys.