In May 2025, superstar recording artist Taylor Swift announced she'd regained ownership of her first six albums following a public battle with investor Scooter Braun.
In 2019, Braun bought the label that released Swift's first six albums, Big Machine Records. This prompted the artist to begin rerecording her early albums as a way to regain control of her music. Braun subsequently sold Swift's original recordings to a capital investment firm and she had been trying to reacquire them since.
Excited fans celebrated Swift's victory, which included many users on TikTok sharing videos (archived, archived, archived) of a special bracelet they'd taken home from Swift's "Eras Tour" — a career-encompassing stadium tour in which Swift performed songs from all of her "eras" — seemingly lighting up in celebration.
One TikTok video (archived) even called the allegedly glowing bracelet a "Swifty bat signal," suggesting Swift was using the device as a mode of communication with her fans. Some users seemed to interpret the claim as fact, thinking Swift remotely activated the bracelets as a way to fill them in on the good news.
@saronthings I mean … how special is that, what a lovely way for #taylorswift to include her fans it this well earned moment. #popculture #erastour #swiftie #swifttok ♬ Cruel Summer — Taylor Swift
However, there is no evidence that Taylor Swift remotely activated the "Eras Tour" bracelets to celebrate the acquisition of her master recordings. The claim is false.
As one TikTok video (archived) pointed out, the bracelets can be activated by removing a plastic tab on the side of the device and deactivated by replacing it. Remote activation of the bracelets requires proximity to a console that controls smart lights.
Snopes reached out to Swift's management and the creators of the device, a company called PixMob, for comment.
The wristbands are meant to sync with other production effects during a show, providing something of a light show using the audience members, as shown below.
(Getty Images)
The PixMob website detailing its contribution to the "Eras Tour" reads, "When fans enter each venue … they are handed a PixMob LED wristband to become part of the show … the light up wristbands are controlled live with PixMob wireless DMX technology over infrared light."
DMX technology is short for Digital Multiplex, which is "the standard digital communication protocol that is used to remotely control intelligent lighting fixtures," according to stage lighting company Stage Electrics.
Typically this is controlled from a console plugged directly into lighting equipment, but PixMob's use of infrared wireless technology is what allows it to control the lighting effects of its wristbands.
However, the range of infrared technology is limited, which is why it works within a stadium during the performance but would not be able to be controlled as remotely as the claims assert. Put simply, think of it as the remote control of a television being out of range.
PixMob created similar experiences for artists including Coldplay, Shakira and Bad Bunny as well as sporting events such as the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2025 Super Bowl.