Poland's 'Szon Patrol' Harasses Women, Causes Outrage and Psychological Distress
A disturbing trend has emerged in Poland, where groups of men, dubbed 'Szon Patrol', are harassing women and posting secret recordings online. The 'morality police' claim to be enforcing dress codes, but their actions have caused outrage and psychological distress.
The 'Szon Patrol' involves young men wearing yellow vests approaching women, often without consent, to photograph or film them. The videos are then shared on social media platforms, with over 12,000 incidents documented since August. The trend started on TikTok but has since spread to other platforms, reaching over 110,000 internet users between August 2 and September 4.
The mental health of affected women has been severely impacted. Some have developed school phobia or fear of leaving the house due to the harassment and online shaming. Despite the outcry, there's no known group or individual responsible for starting the 'Szon Patrol' in Warsaw. However, three Polish journalists have launched a counter-action called 'Schön Patrol'. They wear yellow vests and distribute flowers to passers-by, promoting positivity and respect instead of harassment.
The 'Szon Patrol' trend has caused significant distress and sparked outrage in Poland. While the origin remains unclear, the Polish Commissioner for Children's Rights has urged platforms like Meta and TikTok to intervene and implement preventive measures. Meanwhile, counter-actions like 'Schön Patrol' aim to promote a positive and respectful environment.
