A new wave of prank videos has emerged on social media in 2026, and it involves an unusual combination of technology and bathroom humor. The trend centers on Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which pranksters use to film themselves spraying fart spray on scented candles in stores like Walmart. They then approach unsuspecting customers or employees and ask them to smell different candles, including the doctored one. The reactions range from confusion to disgust, and many videos end with the prankster getting kicked out of the store.
Meta Ray-Bans have become essential tools for these pranks because they function as hidden cameras. The glasses allow people to record video and audio hands-free without holding up a phone or camera. This means pranksters can maintain natural conversations and interactions while secretly filming everything. The glasses do have a small LED light that blinks during recording, but most people don’t notice it in the moment. This covert filming capability makes the pranks feel more authentic and spontaneous.
The fart candle prank has become particularly popular among teenage boys and men in their early twenties. Videos appear frequently on Instagram Reels and TikTok, sometimes as serialized content with titles like “getting kicked out of stores *Part 3*.” The trend fits into a broader pattern of using Meta glasses for trolling content in big-box stores, fast-food restaurants, and even school hallways. Similar pranks include placing fake poop in bathrooms or making awkward comments to strangers.
These videos raise serious concerns about privacy and harassment. Store employees, often low-wage workers, become unwilling participants in content created for viral attention. The ease of recording with Meta Ray-Bans has fueled socially questionable behavior that blurs the line between harmless jokes and genuine harassment. Some social media users have even posted warning videos advising people to be cautious around anyone wearing these distinctive smart glasses. The trend highlights how wearable technology can enable bad behavior by making it effortless to create and share content without considering the impact on others. A related concern is that such devices offer direct access to recording and sharing large amounts of footage.
