A video has gone viral on TikTok of a little boy discovering his own shadow and then trying to run away from it.
It’s part of a broader trend of “shadow babies,” in which parents film their children discovering the phenomenon.
In the clip, the little boy, who appears to be around two years old, cries when he first notices it.
The video has sparked a variety of reactions and discussions online, with many viewers expressing empathy for the boy, who clearly looks distraught.
Others simply said that it was a harmless video of a child navigating the world around them.
His father finds the whole thing hilarious.
In the clip, a father films his son as he walks down the sidewalk trying to chase away his shadow.
He groans as he falls and touches the shadow.
She then becomes increasingly distraught as she continues to try to escape her shadow, only to realize that she is attached to him.
His father is behind the camera and finds the whole situation funny and asks his son, “What’s up?”
She even encourages him to “look down,” which his son does, before starting to cry again.
“Poor boy”
At first glance, the video might seem like a cute and funny moment.
But many viewers took issue with the fact that the father did not try to comfort his son and, if anything, exacerbated his distress.
“Why do I always feel so bad for these shadow babies,” one person said.
Another wrote: “Honestly, it must be really scary from his perspective.”
“Poor kid, he’s really terrified of his shadow,” a third commented.
Others offered their condolences to the boy: “Don’t worry bubba, don’t be scared. He is with you forever.”
And some shared their own experiences of watching their children discover their shadows.
“My son attacked his shadow by throwing things at him while screaming his heart out,” said one mother.
Another added: “I will always remember the day my daughter did this. The funniest thing in the world.