CA, US & World
Question-Swap Videos Turn Out-of-Context Answers Into Viral Social Media Pranks
A new social media prank trend is turning harmless conversations into outrageous viral videos by swapping the questions people were actually asked with completely different ones.
The videos, spreading across TikTok and Instagram, typically feature people answering ordinary questions before the creators edit in more provocative questions. The result can make someone appear to say something shocking, embarrassing or even offensive.
One popular variation has people answering a question about how they would eat four ice cream cones, only for the edited video to make it appear they were describing something far more suggestive. Another makes it seem as though a person is explaining what they would do if a hungry orphan asked for food.
The intentionally obvious editing is a key part of the joke. Experts say viewers are generally expected to recognize that the clips have been manipulated rather than interpret the responses as genuine.
Brooke Duffy, a communications professor at Cornell University, said younger users are increasingly aware that online media can be manipulated through editing, memes and artificial intelligence.
The trend also frequently involves parents, grandparents, bosses and coworkers, creating another layer of humor around generational differences in understanding online culture.
One example involved 78-year-old Kathi Julison, whose granddaughter Tessani Foster recorded her answering the ice cream question. Foster then edited the video to make it appear Julison was answering a question about what she would do if four firefighters showed up at her door. The resulting TikTok received more than six million views.
The trend has also made its way into workplaces. At a restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee, two owners were filmed answering a question about confronting an armed intruder. The question was later changed to make their responses appear connected to a hungry orphan. The video received more than 18 million views.
Digital anthropologist Crystal Abidin said the deliberately rough editing helps communicate that the videos are jokes rather than malicious misinformation.
Experts say the trend also illustrates how the boundaries between personal, professional and social media identities continue to blur. For younger users, being taken out of context can feel like an unavoidable part of life online.
As one Gen Z reporter described it, that possibility has become a natural part of the “heartbeat of the internet.”
CNN Newsource contributed to this report.
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: CNN Newsource
August 23, 2026
Latest Instagram Posts
It’s been one month since a car crashed into the Burger Box restaurant in Indio. Owner Anthony Ruiz says a lot has been happening behind the scenes since then. With some new, big developments over the past week, Ruiz spoke with NBC Palm Springs’s @maria_nvtv to discuss rebuilding, new details about the investigation taking place, and how the owners are feeling now. Watch the full on update on NBC Palm Springs at 5 & 6, and visit nbcpalmsprings.com to hear where things stand, what’s next, and how the Burger Box family is reflecting on this incident as they navigate their new reality. #BurgerBox #update #indio #localbusiness #rebuilding
Social time with Thalia and Jerry and Hayden
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Damian Durinzi’s Catch in Traffic, 2) Jaylen Turner Finding the End Zone with Pressure, 3) Aiden Pope’s 95 Yard Punt Return, 4) Colton LaCrone’s 40 Yard Rushing TD, or 5) Adam Tremper’s 30 Yard Rushing TD #fypage #fridaynightlights #top3 #hondaofthedesert
FIREFIGHTERS FACE A “FIRENADO” IN IDAHO Talk about a terrifying sight. While battling the Cave Fire near Kuna, Idaho, firefighters encountered a massive fire whirl — commonly called a “firenado.” The dramatic footage shows the powerful column of swirling fire as crews worked to battle the wildfire. Watch the video at NBCPalmSprings.com. #Firenado #Wildfire #Idaho #Firefighters #FireWeather #CaveFire #NBCPalmSprings
Are Coachella Valley roads designed more for cars than people? With 65 pedestrian deaths reported across the Valley’s nine cities in roughly five years, The Roggin Report takes a closer look at pedestrian safety, dark-sky rules, road design and who should be responsible for keeping people safe. Drivers? Cities? Or pedestrians themselves? Watch the full discussion on The Roggin Report at NBCPalmSprings.com/therogginreport
Erosion, rising tides and unstable bluffs are reshaping San Clemente’s iconic coastline — and officials are testing new ways to protect the beach, rail line and nearby infrastructure. The city is using a combination of sand, rock, plants, reinforcement and new walls to fight the impacts. The Orange County Transportation Authority has also built a catchment wall to help keep landslide debris off the coastal rail tracks. And there’s a Coachella Valley connection: San Clemente City Manager Andy Hall previously served as Cathedral City’s city manager. With sea levels rising and extreme tidal events putting more pressure on California’s coast, officials say the work in San Clemente could help other coastal communities prepare for what’s ahead. Read the full story at NBCPalmSprings.com. #SanClemente #CaliforniaCoast #CoastalErosion #CathedralCity #CoachellaValley NBCPalmSprings
80s pop icon Taylor Dayne is coming to the Coachella Valley, and you could be there! Taylor Dayne sits down with our entertainment contributor TOD Macofsky for a conversation about her legendary career, classic hits, Palm Springs, her upcoming Las Vegas residency and what fans can expect when she takes the stage at Spotlight 29. Taylor Dayne performs Friday, September 4 at 8 p.m. at Spotlight 29. Want to WIN tickets? Enter now at: nbcpalmsprings.com/promotions Watch the full interview with Taylor Dayne on Desert Entertainment with TOD at NBCPalmSprings.com. #TaylorDayne #Spotlight29 #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #80sMusic ConcertGiveaway TicketGiveaway DesertEntertainment
California is considering major penalties for hospitals and medical groups that exceed state healthcare spending targets. But could those fines actually lead to cuts in critical services like emergency rooms, mental health and obstetrics? Tammy and Stephanie weigh in on the potential impact—and why controlling healthcare costs may be a double-edged sword. Watch the full discussion and hear the panel’s take at NBCPalmSprings.com/therogginreport
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Tonight the city of Coachella made history - becoming the first city in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County to enact a permanent data center ban. The unanimous decision comes after months of demands from hundreds of residents asking city council to shut down a massive data center project proposed in the east end of the city. Tonight at 11, our @newsbyalondra has the latest details.