A wave of AI-generated videos depicting chaotic, crime-ridden urban scenes has been circulating online, often targeting neighborhoods in south London such as Croydon. These videos, shared widely on TikTok and Instagram Reels, typically feature young men in balaclavas and puffer jackets in absurd or exaggerated situations—sliding into dirty pools or operating arcade machines filled with knives—under captions claiming taxpayer-funded facilities.

The trend, dubbed “decline porn”, exaggerates urban decay and often stokes racial and political tensions. Although the creators, like the 20-something content producer known as RadialB, claim their intent is humorous, the content has been taken seriously by some viewers, contributing to misperceptions about safety and demographics in Western cities.

RadialB explained that his prompts focus on “roadmen wearing puffer jackets, track suits, and balaclavas” because he finds them visually funny, rather than aiming to target a specific race. He also acknowledged that his videos provoke political reactions, with older viewers often leaving angry comments, and said the rise of high-quality AI tools made creating such content “very easy.”

The spread of these videos is amplified by copycat accounts worldwide, some operating under seemingly news-oriented profiles, sharing AI-manipulated content about London, Manchester, New York, and San Francisco. Influencers like South African YouTuber Kurt Caz have faced accusations of doctoring content, such as adding Arabic text to shop signs or putting balaclavas on cyclists in thumbnails, to exaggerate narratives of urban decline.

High-profile figures, including Elon Musk, have also amplified the notion of British cities in decline, linking immigration and crime to societal erosion. Yet polls, such as those from YouGov, indicate a gap between perception and reality—while a majority of Britons believe London is unsafe, most Londoners report their local areas as safe.

Experts and community members warn that AI deepfakes blur the line between satire and misinformation, creating racial stereotypes and fueling divisive political narratives. Despite platform efforts to label AI-generated content and remove abusive comments, the rapid growth of this content demonstrates how generative AI can distort reality and influence public perception on a global scale.

RadialB’s TikTok account has been banned for graphic content, but he has quickly established new accounts, continuing to post videos depicting “roadmen” at fictional, grimy facilities, showing the ongoing challenge of regulating AI-generated media.