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Local social experiment goes viral

Social experiment in Kelowna is filmed and viewed almost one million times
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It appears to restore your faith in humanity, a social experiment created right in downtown Kelowna to see just how trustworthy people really can be.

A man named Ed Smith conducts a social media test where he leaves his wallet, with credit cards and cash inside, on a bench in City Park for anyone to pick up and find.

The catch is that there is a tracking device also inside that is controlled by Smith’s cell phone.

Now, some are cautious this experience might be set up as a sales tactic for the TrackR, a coin-sized tracking device that connects to your phone to find anything that goes missing.

However, as Smith follows the man around town as he appears to shop and use the cash and cards from the wallet — the video ends with what could be considered a genuine encounter.

Smith confronts the man after following him with the tracking device as this person goes to the mall, takes the bus and then oddly shows up near Smith’s home.

Apparently the man was going to return the wallet and claims he never used any money or credit cards.

The two awkwardly talk as another person films.

The video posted to Facebook on an account Brand New Tech has been viewed almost one million times, although it has since been removed from YouTube.

Watch the video and see what you think. Is this a real social experiment or a marketing scheme?



Jen Zielinski

About the Author: Jen Zielinski

Graduated from the broadcast journalism program at BCIT. Also holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science and sociology from Thompson Rivers University.
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