In today's era of viral content and rapidly shifting fame, social media influencers are continually pushing boundaries to grab attention and stay relevant. From jaw-dropping stunts to borderline reckless acts, the race for attention has led many to tread dangerous paths—sometimes quite literally.

Recently, a fitness influencer from Delhi, Piku Singh, found herself at the centre of an online storm after uploading a video of her running alongside a fast-moving train. The video, posted on Instagram, shows her sprinting next to the railway tracks while a train hurtles past just inches away. Captioned simply, “Running with train,” the clip quickly gained traction, with reactions ranging from awe to outrage.

While some praised her athleticism and daring nature, a significant number of users voiced concern over the life-threatening nature of the stunt. Many questioned the message being sent to young followers and the consequences of encouraging such risky behaviour in pursuit of likes and shares.

Singh's video is not an isolated incident.

In Chennai, a clip recently surfaced showing a group of college students engaging in dangerous antics atop a moving electric train. Inspired by what’s locally known as the “route thala” trend—where college students try to display dominance in public spaces—a group of youngsters was filmed engaging in risky acts like hanging off the sides of a train and climbing onto its roof all to record a viral video.

Another viral video that made headlines earlier this year further highlights the extreme lengths people are willing to go for social media stardom. In the clip, a young woman is seen leaning dangerously out of a moving train, attempting to film a dramatic reel. The stunt is quickly interrupted as the woman gets scolded and physically reprimanded—an unexpected turn that many viewers found both humorous and eye-opening. The video, uploaded in February 2025, has already garnered over 400,000 views and a mix of shock and laughter online.

These incidents underline a worrying trend, the growing normalisation of high-risk behaviour for the sake of internet fame.