YouTuber shares video of ‘zombie-like people’ walking on San Francisco streets; sparks debate

Screengrab from video depicting ‘zombie-like people’ on San Francisco streets (Picture credit: X)

Indian YouTuber Ishan Sharma recently shared a video on social media depicting “zombie-like people walking on the streets” of San Francisco, US. The video, showcasing the city’s struggles with homelessness, drug addiction, and public safety, has garnered widespread attention.
Sharma, who has over 1.5 million YouTube subscribers, posted the video on X, writing:
“It breaks my heart watching this. This is San Francisco. The tech capital of America. Home to the world’s brightest minds. AND the biggest tech companies.”
The footage depicts individuals on the streets appearing unconscious or struggling to walk.
Calling San Francisco “the most unsafe place” he’d ever visited, Sharma wrote:
“Half of the streets are filled with homeless, mentally unstable, high on drugs, or a combination of all. Gun violence and car break-ins are so common. Theft is at an all-time high. Zombie-like people walking on the streets. It is the utopia of tech capitalism gone wrong. Why can’t this be fixed?”

The video sparked various reactions on social media, with many users discussing San Francisco’s declining status as a tech hub. A commenter, Abhishek Shaw, wrote, “No, it’s not the tech capital anymore; most of them have already shifted to Austin, Texas.” Another user questioned, “Why aren’t they inside prisons or rehab centers?” Some described the situation as a “reality check” and “scary,” while others speculated about the mental health of the individuals shown.
San Francisco’s homelessness crisis has been a recurring topic of debate. Last month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk described encountering “violent, drug zombies” on the city’s streets during an interview.