Police: Boy faces charges after online prank game

YORK, S.C. — Online videos called "smack cams" are going viral and a local 12-year-old student is facing criminal charges for smacking a fellow middle school student without warning.

Smack cam videos are trending and show young people unexpectedly slap one another in the face.
 
The father of the victim said his daughter was slapped during class at York Middle School and he is upset.
 
The boy who slapped her said it was a joke but police are calling the prank an assault.
 
"When he slapped her he actually busted her lip and cut the inside of her mouth," the father said. "She didn't know the boy. Not friends, anything like that. They just happened to be in the same class."

The prankster told police he was sorry.

York police are taking the incident seriously and said they aren't aware of any other smack cam incidents happening at York Middle School.
 
But they said the trend is worrisome.
 
Investigators want parents to be more aware of what their children are viewing online, especially on Facebook and Youtube. 
 
The victim's father hopes children understand how a prank can quickly turn into a crime.

"I just want everyone to be aware of how severe this is and how it could actually affect kids," the father said. "Not only the victim but the one who did this as well."
 
The boy is being charged as a juvenile.

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