Prankster creates fake abduction experiment to show dangers of social media

A video prankster created a chilling and controversial experiment designed to show parents the dangers associated with social media.

YouTube star, Coby Persin, set out to demonstrate just how easy it can be to lure an underage girl out of her home and into the arms of a potential predator.

After getting permission from the parents of three girls, ages 12, 13, and 14, Persin posed as a 15-year-old boy and started chatting them up on Facebook.

Even though all of the parents said they were confident their kids wouldn't actually meet Persin, within three days, all of the girls agreed - even giving out their addresses.

In each case, the parents were hiding out nearby to shake some sense into their daughters when Persin showed up.

And that's where the controversy comes in.

In the final experiment, the 14-year-old girl's parents actually pretended to kidnap their daughter when she got in Persin's van, wearing ski masks and all.

The video has been viewed more than 21 million times.

Though the girls will likely never repeat that mistake again, many critics feel that it was not necessary to traumatize a child like that, even if the lesson is critically important.

Click here to view the full video