Netflix Displays Strangers’ Faces On Billboards In Uncanny ‘Black Mirror’ Stunt
Images via Black Mirror
Since first heading to Netflix in 2016, Charlie Brooker’s chilling dystopian anthology series has had audiences questioning: is this the real life, or is this Black Mirror?
The show’s sixth season all but confirms we are living a Black Mirror episode.
On Thursday, members of the public discovered that Netflix had plastered their faces onto billboards across the UK.
So, I guess @blackmirror decided to put me on a billboard in Manchester. 😅 If you see this, send me pics! #BlackMirror #Streamberry pic.twitter.com/IXxcX5zJCi
— Nicholas Mauro (@retromauro) June 22, 2023
Eerily, viewers’ own undoing made this all possible. The streaming giant was able to obtain these selfies as people had approved to give up their images in the terms and conditions, a prospect that the season’s first episode, Joan is Awful, has warned about.
In Joan is Awful, an ordinary woman named Joan (played by Annie Murphy) believes she is having a relaxing evening in front of her television screen, until she realizes that one of the latest programs on ‘Streamberry’—an uncanny Netflix lookalike—is a direct adaptation from her life, and stars Salma Hayek. It turns out Joan had unwittingly leased out her likeness to Streamberry after ignoring the T&Cs.
The scenario is rather on the nose, and it’s helped by the fact that Streamberry is an almost exact replica of Netflix in design. To further transport this concept into the real world, the company created a Streamberry website, where fans are welcome to create their own …Is Awful posters, a nod to Streamberry executives’ plans to make a tailored series for all 800 million subscribers.
It is through here that audiences have granted Netflix consent to use their images by ticking a checkbox acknowledging that the posters could be used for a marketing campaign.
Becca Is Awful, now streaming in Cardiff. #YouAreAwful https://t.co/cv7ZUjbqiR pic.twitter.com/04MSl1CtH4
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
Unfortunately, the stunt doesn’t just apply to humans. Did these animals read the fine print too?
Gracie Is Awful, now streaming in Birmingham. #YouAreAwful https://t.co/7IFXB8B7Hj pic.twitter.com/IMh4rfSoYr
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
Moriarty Is Awful, now streaming in London. #YouAreAwful @shanconnellan https://t.co/ht3JwzJqGQ pic.twitter.com/1RH6VW7k6Q
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
According to LADbible, a member of its staff has spotted one of these out-of-home placements in the wild, meaning it’s not just a digital prank.
So, the next time you try out one of these “fun” photo tools, remember that your pictures may end up elsewhere.
NO I DIDNT THEY WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO PUT US ON BILLBOARDS ☠ï¸
— ༺☆༻ (@starcakei) June 22, 2023
Black Mirror using my photo was NOT on my 2023 bingo card https://t.co/QU8E4ww5QP
— madison (@theMHarmon) June 22, 2023
I guess I did sign my entire life away when I agreed to those “terms and conditions” 😂
— madison (@theMHarmon) June 22, 2023
Janine Is Awful, now streaming in Glasgow. #YouAreAwful https://t.co/DdEOesRgnt pic.twitter.com/foSpwUnJdN
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
Noah Is Awful, now streaming in London. #YouAreAwful https://t.co/6rrU9C2BMe pic.twitter.com/KmwaTJMrIM
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
Kushaan Is Awful, now streaming in London. #YouAreAwful https://t.co/WojMFfM9u2 pic.twitter.com/Bki0VaTlKl
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
Nicolette Is Awful, now streaming in Birmingham. #YouAreAwful https://t.co/pnUDaWwTOd pic.twitter.com/QIIYqkLg6n
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
Steve Is Awful, now streaming in Glasgow. #YouAreAwful https://t.co/b5xAUWOp7h pic.twitter.com/g42XIC08EF
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
Graham Is Awful, now streaming in London. #YouAreAwful https://t.co/Qj6tMrj32f pic.twitter.com/h9eChzPULL
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
Pamela Is Awful, now streaming in Glasgow. #YouAreAwful https://t.co/6dYRt5GsrZ pic.twitter.com/lpYsg2Pr0w
— Black Mirror (@blackmirror) June 22, 2023
[via LADbible and Evening Standard, images via Black Mirror]
