Amazon cashes in on TikTok trend with new TV show featuring viral Ring doorbell footage

By Alma Fabiani

Published Aug 19, 2022 at 09:00 AM

Reading time: 1 minute

34991

If you spend at least a solid 30 minutes a day on TikTok, chances are you’ve seen the viral video of two drunk individuals—one woman, one man—standing in front of what the man believes to be the woman’s house. He is then seen asking his companion if she has the key to open her front door, to which she responds: “Why would I have the key?”

As it turns out, they’re standing on the porch of a complete randomer’s house—the person who ended up sharing the clip online, @sophie.sciascia—and are being filmed by her Ring video doorbell camera.

With over 2.5 billion views on the app and counting, it’s safe to say that #ringdoorbell content is gaining traction—and like always, Amazon, aka the company that owns and produces the smart home technology that captures viral-to-be clips, has come up with an effortless way to monetise on its device’s sudden rise in popularity.

As first revealed by entertainment news site Deadline, September 2022 will bring us—or audiences in the US, at least—Ring Nation, a TV show hosted by comedian Wanda Sykes which will feature short videos such as “neighbours saving neighbours, marriage proposals, military reunions and silly animals.”

@sophie.sciascia

by far the funniest thing my ring camera has ever captured. someone find these people so i can actually invite them over.

♬ original sound - Sophiesciascia

With Amazon completing its $8.5 billion acquisition of giant media company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)—known for its production and distribution of feature films and TV programmes—in March 2022, it’s no surprise as to why Ring Nation will soon be on our watchlists.

Let’s take a step back for a minute here. Amazon bought Ring in 2018 and MGM just this year—which, by the way, owns the production company behind the Emmy-winning documentary series Live PD, Big Fish Entertainment. In other words, it wasn’t enough for the multinational tech company to give law enforcement access to its loyal customers’ Ring camera footage without a warrant, it also had to go and produce a whole TV show to invite audiences to participate in the surveillance state.

@nelaaa888

I can’t stop laughing 😂😂 #ringdoorbell #caughtoncamera #amazon #foryoupage #fyp

♬ original sound - Y.medrano

Described as a “daily dose of life’s unpredictable, heartwarming and hilarious viral videos” in a press release, Ring Nation comes as yet another stark reminder that these days, privacy doesn’t represent much to most people—hello meta selfies and at-home DNA tests—especially when they’re offered 15 minutes of fame in exchange for it.

Keep On Reading

By Eliza Frost

What is dry begging? And why is it a relationship red flag?

By Eliza Frost

Jennifer Lawrence weighs in on The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle, revealing she is Team Jeremiah

By Eliza Frost

Jessie Cave was banned from a Harry Potter fan convention because of her OnlyFans account

By Eliza Frost

Everything to know about Justin Lee Fisher, arrested at Travis Kelce’s home over Taylor Swift deposition papers from Justin Baldoni

By Eliza Frost

Gen Z can’t afford one-night stands as rising cost of living causes sex recession

By Eliza Frost

The Summer I Turned Pretty is getting a movie. Could it be here in time for Christmas?

By Eliza Frost

The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Chris Briney is at the centre of a new love triangle, but this time for an audio erotica story 

By Eliza Frost

Zohran Mamdani wins New York City mayoral race, and wife Rama Duwaji becomes city’s Gen Z first lady 

By Eliza Frost

If everyone has an AI boyfriend, what does that mean for the future of Gen Z dating?

By Eliza Frost

Misinformation spread by wellness influencers online is leading to falling contraceptive pill use

By Eliza Frost

Online pornography showing choking to be made illegal, says government 

By Eliza Frost

Is Belly Conklin the problem in The Summer I Turned Pretty?

By Eliza Frost

Millie Bobby Brown reportedly accuses Stranger Things co-star David Harbour of harassment and bullying 

By Eliza Frost

Everything you need to know about Trump’s state visit, including that Epstein projection

By Eliza Frost

The swag gap relationship: Does it work when one partner is cooler than the other?

By Eliza Frost

Controversial American Apparel owner just opened LA Apparel in NYC and TikTok girlies are flocking to shop

By Eliza Frost

Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law; this is what it means for you

By Eliza Frost

Kim Kardashian wants to know how much a carton of milk costs 

By Eliza Frost

Hailey Bieber just listed all the beauty treatments she swears by

By Eliza Frost

Are you in Group 7? Explaining the latest viral TikTok trend