Who Is WorldOfTShirts And Why Is He Causing Havoc in Dublin?
Words: Dray Morgan
For the chronically online, the name Joshua Block or WorldOfTShirts may trigger flashbacks of years worth of lore, mostly documented on TikTok. Since 2020, the social media influencer has become infamous for his antics in New York City and now across the world, gaining 3.7 million followers in the process. This time, he’s landed in Ireland.
@worldoftshirts #fyp ♬ original sound – Joshua Block
Masses have mobilised, scouring the city for Josh, with Irish influencers taking advantage of the chance to be in the limelight and kids waiting outside Dublin’s pubs for Josh to emerge.
@emmerissa_ Pls come out @Joshua Block 🙏🙏 #worldoftshirts #huluchippendalesdance #joshblock #dublin #goinglivesoon ♬ original sound – Joshua Block
Josh’s popularity mirrors an unsavoury theme on TikTok of persons with neurodivergence blowing up on the app as a figure of ridicule. Initially, his content began with him exploring New York regularly and drinking coffee and bubble tea. However, due to pressure from his audience encouraging him to drink wherever he goes, viewers of Josh’s feed would have noticed him gradually swapping out the coffee for alcohol.
Josh Block is representative of a type of fame which has evolved with the internet. With algorithm-heavy social media consumption, fame can happen to anyone for any reason, overnight. The dehumanisation of figures with notoriety such as Josh, seems to give members of the public a feeling of permission to break social norms when meeting the people they see online. It is a unique type of fame where maybe the negatives of being known outweigh the positives. If you wouldn’t interact with a stranger in this way, then why would you interact with a social media personality like this?
@worldoftshirts #huluchippendalesdance ♬ The Rocky Road to Dublin – The Dubliners
Trends on TikTok have seen the public attempt to provoke Josh, causing him to “crash out” – a relatively new term defined by the subject having an outburst of rage and struggling with emotional regulation. However, in more uplifting news, a group of young lads have been acting as bodyguards for the influencer as he travels around the city. On his first day of escapades, Josh visited The Spire, Temple Bar, The Portal and The George, not a bad day if you ask us.
