Across the manosphere and mainstream social media, you might have noticed “pickup artists.” These are men who have gone viral by sharing their tips on things like first dates and approaching women on nights out. However, as one Miami-based woman found out, there’s a very disturbing side to it.
In a clip that has amassed 316,100 views, TikTok user Gabs (@gabss6352) issued a PSA to fellow women. But her reason why is shocking.
Why Shouldn’t You Flirt With Men Wearing Glasses?
“PSA, ladies, we’re no longer flirting with men on a night out,” she announced. “Especially if they’re wearing glasses, because you will see yourself on TikTok the next day, ‘Caption: how to confidently approach women on a night out.'”
Pouring cold water on this content genre, Gabs issued a reality check. “Sir, I spoke to you because I was drunk,” she said. “You didn’t need confidence. I would have spoken to a wall.”
She continued, ” I am just sick. I cannot keep scrolling through TikTok. And I’ve seen myself not once, not twice, three times. Three times, I’ve been the poster child for how to approach a woman on a night out.”
“Baby, just approach. Just approach me. I will talk to just about anyone. Delete the video. Delete the video. I’m never speaking to a man with glasses again. And no, I don’t see that little blinking light. I had four tequila Red Bulls. Go to war.”
Gabs didn’t immediately respond to BroBible’s request for comment via TikTok comment.
Since Meta Smart Glasses were released, concerns about men misusing them have grown. One U.K.-based Redditor wrote that they’re seeing “a flurry of social media posts” similar to the ones Gabs described in the UK.
“The videos are often in public streets but are also often in private property (stores and cafes etc),” the user notes. “I just find these types of videos extremely creepy, and I dislike the fact that women might be being recorded covertly and being turned into content unwittingly.”
Commenters Were Disgusted
Commenters were outraged. One wrote that “the lonely men epidemic is growing largely,” while another added that “they’re not lonely enough.”
“YES!” a third exclaimed. “I HATE these glasses. How is this even ok?”
While a fourth asked, “Is there recourse for people posting you without your permission?”
Elsewhere, commenters were issuing PSAs of their own.
“Just FYI, there is a light on the glasses when they are recording,” a fifth said.
A sixth noted, “MANY of them put black electrical tape over the light, you can’t see it anyway.”
Some Venues Are Taking Action
The extent of this issue has led to venues being more strict about wearing Ray-Bans inside.
TikToker Britknee (@britknee0405) recently went viral after showing how, during her job as a host at an adult club, she refused to let a man wear his Meta Smart Ray-Bans inside.
In the video footage, she could be seen having a back-and-forth with the customer at the door.
When told he couldn’t bring it in, the annoyed man asked: “Why not?”
“Because they have… they’re the Ray-Bans, my love” she explained.
Insistently, the man said that he wears them “everywhere,” to which Britknee replied, “Not here. Promise you that. You’re gonna have to leave them outside or leave them with me.”
“I gotta leave my glasses with you?” he asked again.
“Yeah, they have cameras on them, and we don’t do that,” she said firmly.
Evidently, judging by Gabs’ and the Redditor’s experiences, Britknees’ concerns were justified.