The Social Experiment That Shocked the Internet: Would You Light a Cigarette for a Ten-Year-Old?

A social experiment conducted in the USA aimed to assess the awareness and concern of the American public regarding the issue of smoking among young children. A ten-year-old boy was sent out with two cigarettes behind his ear and a lighter that wouldn't spark, exposed to the curious, skeptical, and even annoyed glances directed at him.

Many of the individuals the boy approached recoiled, became angry, or even snatched the cigarette away in frustration. While some passed by without comment, one person even agreed, in their 'generosity', to light the cigarette for him.

Then, unexpectedly, a savior appeared. A young man who had lost his voice due to heavy smoking was deeply moving when he stopped beside the boy, pulled out his voice device, and in a 'strange' voice asked the boy his age.

The boy replied, 'Ten,' and with natural curiosity asked the man why he sounded like that.

The man's answer touched millions worldwide, and rightfully so: "I lost my voice. I have cancer. That thing in your hand... I used to smoke more than two packs a day, and so did my parents."

"What's that thing on your neck?" the boy interrupted and asked.

The man replied, "I've got a big hole in my throat. You don't want to see it. Everyone thinks it's a joke, but it's real."

At this point, warm tears welled up in the boy's eyes, as he partially comprehended the severe consequences of smoking. "Promise me you will never smoke cigarettes," the man said, leaning towards him.

Watch the touching video: