Predator hunters have become popular online for exposing people they believe are preying on minors, just to film confrontations, post them online and claim to be protecting children. Instead of helping possible victims, their actions are helping predators.

While exposing predators and conformations may seem satisfying, it doesn’t help victims, as there are typically no authorities involved before those videos get posted. 

Predator hunters don’t have authority or thorough procedures like police officers do. The evidence they gather can’t be used because it wasn’t obtained legally.

If a predator is caught on video, the case will not appear in front of a judge which means the predator may walk free because the evidence wasn’t handled the right way.

Another problem is how many hunters post their confrontations online before police are even notified. When a video is posted, it doesn’t expose them, it only warns them.

It alerts predators to delete their accounts, move to a different area and destroy any evidence before authorities can get involved. Hunters make it harder for law enforcement, making it easier for predators to vanish.

Some predator hunters act out of emotion or for social media attention. Their videos are for drama and views, not for accuracy or justice. Calling someone out online doesn’t lead to any jail time or protection for future victims.

Viewers argue that predator hunters raise “awareness” and scare potential offenders from trying to meet minors. 

If predators aren’t arrested and legally punished, they can simply make new accounts under different names and continue to harm others but with more caution.

Predator hunters look brave on camera but cause damage off-screen misleading to how viewers react vs. what we actually know.

Viewers comment things like “he deserved it” or “finally someone doing what police won’t,” bringing an emotional reaction and forgetting we’re only seeing one side of the story.

In a video called “He Came to Meet A 13 Year Old Girl, Meets Cops Instead,” there is a comment describing the video as “entertainment” after catching a predator. 

“The fact that he actually caught real predators is insane, he really putting his life on the line for our entertainment,” the comment reads.

These videos tend to be edited the wrong way to make the situation more dramatic than it really was. While viewers believe they’re watching justice in action, what’s actually happening is more complicated. 

Real justice doesn’t come from viral videos, it comes from the law.