Creepy, relentless and watched by millions: The 'nightlife' videos that just won't go away

The phenomenon and its scale

Videos of women on nights out in Manchester city centre, often filmed without their knowledge, continue to proliferate on social media, an investigation by the Manchester Evening News has found. The trend, which has previously triggered police probes and a wave of complaints, persists despite periodic attempts by social media platforms to clamp down on such content.

One 'Manchester nightlife' account on Facebook, seen by the Manchester Evening News, has amassed 1.8 million followers. Other smaller accounts dedicated to sharing the footage include one with more than 33,000 followers and another with 13,000 followers. A dedicated Facebook group, where users can also share their own footage and images, has more than 354,000 members.

The footage typically features young women on nights out in town, believed to be intoxicated and sometimes in vulnerable situations. They appear to be seemingly unaware they are being watched and recorded by social media users looking to share their videos to the biggest audience possible.

Sarah Bookbinder, a digital rights advocate, said the prevalence of such content reflected "a cultural acceptance of surveilling women in public spaces" that "needs to be challenged". She added that platforms need to do more to prevent the spread of non-consensual images, as reported by the Manchester Evening News and the South Wales Echo.

Content, AI, and misleading captions

Bizarrely, one page features several images which appear to have been created using artificial intelligence (AI). The images are supposed to show women on a night out in Manchester - particularly around Deansgate - with some posing for the camera and others. It is unclear whether the images are based on pictures of real women to begin with. The M.E.N. pixelated the faces in the AI images to protect any identities which may have been used to produce them.

Misspelt shop signs on the street, cars which do not appear to be real and the composition of the images all provide clues that the pictures were made with AI. Yet the comments sections suggest that many viewers have failed to realize the images are artificial.

Users of the pages and groups form a network which regularly descends into misogyny. Comments underneath some clips include 'Red Light district?', 'English dumplings' and 'Is it the Weight Watchers convention?'. Other comments are too vulgar to be repeated, including multiple sexual remarks about the women who feature in the videos.

Some clips also appeared to be filmed in other UK cities, including Leeds and Liverpool, but captioned as if they are from Manchester. One page featured several clips showing couples kissing or having other intimate moments. Other clips appeared to show women struggling while intoxicated, including one who had difficulty getting up from the ground.

Platform response and the investigation

The Manchester Evening News shared its latest findings with Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram. The investigation, which began in 2024, included a review of multiple accounts and the compilation of evidence. Meta did not respond to requests for comment.

This trend first came to light in 2022 when the Manchester Evening News reported on accounts sharing such videos. TikTok later removed some of those accounts. In 2024, the M.E.N. reported on clips being shared on YouTube as well.

Police probe and the arrest

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launched a criminal investigation after receiving complaints from affected women. A man was arrested on suspicion of voyeurism and harassment in November 2024, but the criminal investigation later came to an end due to limitations with current legislation. The force is now looking into the new findings.

Superintendent Nicola Williams, of GMP City of Manchester, previously said: "Predatory behaviour is completely unacceptable, and tackling this has been a priority for our night time economy policing operation." She added: "We are committed to ensuring nights out are safe for everyone and encourage anyone who is subjected to unwanted behaviour to report this to us. We will listen, you will be believed, and we will investigate all lines of enquiry."

Community response and initiatives

In a direct response to the phenomenon, more than 600 businesses have signed up to Manchester's Women's Night-time Safety Charter, a city-wide initiative to make nights out safer. The charter is part of a broader plan involving local authorities and the police.

Hannah O'Donoghue-Hobbs, a social media consultant who spoke to the Manchester Evening News, said that platforms prioritise content that keeps people commenting and sharing, often controversy and moral judgement. "The danger is that this online behaviour doesn't stay online and can translate into more real-world risks," she said.

A free app, WalkSafe+, allows users to share their journeys with trusted contacts and report concerns in the city. The #IsThisOk? campaign and GMP's Operation Safer Streets have also been launched to challenge and tackle predatory behaviour across the region.

The Manchester Evening News has asked Meta to take down the accounts and groups identified in its latest report, but has not received a response.