19-minute viral video: Is there a ‘Season 5’ and 50-minute version of the viral MMS video? Here’s the REAL truth

MMS Video: Amid the 19-minute viral video controversy which has engulfed several young influencers including gamer Payal Dhare, aka Payal Gaming, and Bengali YouTubers Sofik SK and Dustu Sonali, rumors of an alleged 50-minute “Season-5” version are circulating on social media sites like Instagram, Telegram and YouTube.

What is ‘Season 5’ of 19-minute viral video?

Earlier this month, a 19-minute viral video, allegedly featuring Bengali YouTuber Sofik SK and his girlfriend Dustu Sonali, was shared online, sparking a social media storm. Notably, after the video went viral, clipped bits from the MMS were shared online, with claims that there was a “full version” which had also been leaked.

Later, Sweet Zannat (Sweet Jannat), a young influencer from Meghalaya, was enveloped in the 19-minute viral video controversy after false claims were made that she was the girl in the viral MMS clip. However, the clip was later debunked as an AI-generated deepfake.

Weeks after the ‘original’ 19-minute viral video was allegedly leaked, posts emerged on social media platforms claiming that a “Season-5”, a 50-minute version featuring a “new girl”, had been leaked as part of a larger leak linked to the 19-minute viral MMS of Sofik SK and Dustu Sonali.

Is the ‘Season 5’ leak real?

While the actual source of the so-called ‘Season 5’ of the 19-minute viral video remains a mystery, the alleged 50-minute version gained traction via posts made from a Instagram account named Govind Kahar, and similar claims made by a newly-created YouTube channel called “Money”.

The posts garnered lakhs of views on the respective platforms, fanning rumors that more explicit private videos linked to the 19-minute viral video had been leaked.

However, experts have debunked the clips posted by these accounts as AI deepfakes, pointing out glaring anomalies such as how the male character in these videos remains the same, while the female’s face has been swapped using AI tools. They also highlighted tell-tale signs of AI face swapping, like unnatural facial movements and lip sync, clearly proving that the videos had been manipulated.

Why scammers are spreading rumors of about a ’50-minute viral video’?

According to cyber experts, the rumors are nothing more than clickbait aimed at generating engagement by cashing in on the virality of the 19-minute viral video controversy.

Authorities have cautioned netizens not to click on links claiming to provide access to the “full video” or similar clips, including Sofik SK’s MMS and Payal Gaming’s alleged private video, as all there are being used by cyber criminals to commit cyber fraud.

Officials warned that cyber criminals are using these fake links to the 19-minute viral video to hack into users’ devices and in some cases, gain access to their personal data, including sensitive information like bank account details and passwords, allowing them to siphon money from unsuspecting and gullible users.

What is the ’19-minute viral video’ controversy?

A social media storm erupted earlier this month after the now infamous 19-minute viral video, allegedly featuring Bengali YouTuber Sofik SK and his girlfriend Dustu Sonali, was leaked online, and days later, prominent gamer and YouTuber, Payal Dhare, aka Payal Gaming, hit national headlines after her alleged private video, was also shared across various platforms.

Akin to Sofik SK’s 19-minute viral video, Payal’s alleged private clip went viral on social sites, bringing disrepute and infamy to the young creator, even though many have pointed out that the viral MMS video is an AI-generated deepfake.

Notably,  before Payal Gaming, Dustu Sonali, and Sweet Zannat, Anjali Arora of ‘Kacha Badam’ fame, faced years of trauma when her morphed MMS clip was widely circulated on the internet.