Across the United States, a troubling trend is unfolding through a simple yet jarring question: “What are you doing here?” This query often marks the beginning of a confrontation caught on camera, where a panicked man realizes he has been lured into a trap. These men, according to the video makers, were expecting to meet a child with whom they had exchanged explicit messages online. Instead, they encounter not law enforcement, but so-called “predator catchers” – everyday citizens intent on exposing and shaming those they believe would harm children.
In a modern twist on the early 2000s TV segment “To Catch a Predator,” these confrontations are tailored for the social media age. Videos, some livestreamed and others edited for online viewing, capture these tense encounters, aiming to hold alleged sexual predators accountable in the court of public opinion. USA TODAY found that these operations have been conducted in approximately three-quarters of U.S. states, with no single organization linking them all. Instead, they operate as a loosely connected network of individuals and groups committed to their brand of justice.
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