In an experiment to test safety standards in India, a foreign tourist deliberately left his iPhone in a public place in Kerala to see if anyone would take it. To his surprise, the outcome defied his expectations. The results of the experiment have since gone viral on social media.

German content creator Younes Zarou recently shared an Instagram video capturing a social experiment in Kerala. Around 4:30 pm, he placed an iPhone on a bench in a busy public area and walked away, recording the scene from a concealed spot nearby. Based on the visuals, the video is suspected to have been filmed at Marine Drive in Kochi.

Over the next several minutes, crowds passed by, some casting curious glances, others not noticing at all, yet no one made a move to take the device.

After an hour, dozens of people had passed by the unattended iPhone, yet no one tried to take it. By around 6 pm, the Apple device remained untouched on the bench. The influencer then concluded the experiment, walking up to retrieve the device.

The video quickly drew reactions on social media, with many praising it while others questioned its authenticity. One user commented, “Because it’s in Kerala… we know it’s a prank and someone is recording.”

Several viewers credited the outcome to the state’s high literacy rate, describing it as “not surprising” given Kerala’s “nice culture and civic sense.” Others, however, challenged Zarou to repeat the experiment in different Indian cities. “Try this in Mumbai, you won’t even need the time lapse,” one user remarked.

Despite being India's most literate state, Kerala still requires 92,000 more people to become literate to reach full literacy, according to a study conducted as part of the third phase of the ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society) - New India Literacy Program. The central and state governments are jointly implementing this initiative to eradicate illiteracy across the country.

According to central government estimates, Kerala's current literacy rate is 96.2%. Since a state is considered fully literate when literacy surpasses 95%, efforts are now being intensified to educate the remaining population.