Crab Goes Viral After Appearing To Hit A Vape Underwater

A crab has taken over social media after a video surfaced showing the little crustacean clutching a disposable vape underwater and appearing to “smoke” it. Originally posted by @nexta_tv on X (formerly Twitter), the bizarre footage quickly spread like wildfire, with thousands of reposts and shares on Instagram. In the clip, the crab can be seen gripping the turquoise vape in its claws, maneuvering it like a seasoned smoker, and even seeming to put the tip up to its mouth.

While some people are joking about the unexpected moment, calling the crab an “underwater influencer” and dubbing it the new “face of Vape Nation,” others are sounding alarms over what this really represents, a sobering glimpse into the state of our oceans and the pollution plaguing marine life.

On Instagram, one user commented, “This makes me sad,” while another called it “heartbreaking,” writing, “Their ocean is their home, yet we pollute it, take them from it, and kill them.”

And the conversation isn’t stopping there. Over on X, many users are calling for action, with one frustrated commenter writing, “This is actually sad. CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF!!”

Another echoed the sentiment, saying, “All jokes aside, it is very sad,” while a viral tweet bluntly declared, “Nah humans are gross man we ruin everything.”

According to data from Condor Ferries and the United Nations, an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic are currently floating in the world’s oceans. And the problem isn’t slowing down as an additional 5 to 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every single year.

The majority of this pollution, which is roughly 80%, comes from land-based sources, including plastics, untreated sewage, oil spills, fertilizers, and chemicals that eventually wash into the sea. One of the most alarming examples of this growing crisis is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), a massive accumulation of floating plastic between Hawaii and California. It’s now estimated to contain around 100 million kilograms of plastic, and experts warn that number is still rising.

Others, however, couldn’t resist leaning into the crab humor. One Instagram user joked, “Why does my crab cake taste like menthol?” while another chimed in, “I don’t blame him! His house is frying.” Someone else dubbed the crustacean “Crabby the Vaper,” while another cleverly called it “a stone(d) crab.”

Pop culture references also made their way into the comments, with one fan laughing, “We got Mr. Krabs hitting the penjamin before 'GTA 6,'” while others used memes, emojis, and even "The Little Mermaid"’s Sebastian to sum up the collective disbelief.

Still, beneath the jokes, some users couldn’t shake the sadness. As one person put it, “It looks funny, but it’s the saddest thing…it’s what humans are doing to Mother Earth.”

While the viral crab video sparked plenty of memes, it also reignited conversations about the growing vaping trend and its environmental impact. In the United States, youth use e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco product, according to public health data. Experts warn that no tobacco products, including vapes, are considered safe, especially for children, teens, and young adults.

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm parts of the adolescent brain responsible for attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Despite growing awareness, vaping remains widespread, with flavored products, aggressive marketing, and peer influence driving more teens to start or continue using vapes.

Health officials emphasize that reducing vaping, especially among youth, requires a community-wide effort. Parents, caregivers, educators, and local leaders all play a role in creating policies and programs to protect kids from the risks of vaping, while also addressing the environmental fallout from discarded devices.

And that environmental piece circles back to the crab video. Disposable vapes, like the one seen in the clip, are a growing contributor to ocean pollution. These devices contain toxic metals, plastics, and lithium batteries that not only threaten marine life but also leach harmful chemicals into delicate ecosystems.