The Viral TikTok Trend of Shaming Fast-Food Workers Needs to Stop | Eater

"A December video filmed at a Port Saint Lucie location captured an employee chopping meat on an overflowing cutting board while the assembly counter was scattered with bits of corn, cheese, and lettuce; the clip went viral with more than 4 million views and sparked a heated online debate. Viewers were split between those condemning the apparent unsanitary conditions and those defending overworked staffers—arguing that employees need help during rushes rather than public shaming. The incident highlights how TikTok’s algorithm can amplify a single moment far beyond the local community and feed larger conversations about restaurant working conditions, pandemic pressures, staffing shortages, and the tendency to punish underpaid, often young workers for systemic problems." - Amy McCarthy