A viral video showing a newborn baby with a thick, dark moustache has sparked laughter and debate online, with viewers questioning whether the unusual facial hair is real or digitally generated.

The clip, which has circulated across social media platforms, reportedly originated in Ecuador.

It shows an infant lying down with dark hair covering the upper lip and parts of the cheeks. Within days of being uploaded, the video attracted millions of views across several video-sharing platforms.

Social media users responded with jokes, with some comparing the baby to a middle-aged man facing a midlife crisis or preparing for retirement.

Others edited images of the infant to show it dressed in business suits, military uniforms and colourful costumes.

However, some viewers questioned the authenticity of the clip, suggesting the moustache may have been added using digital editing tools or artificial intelligence (AI).

Newborns can sometimes have a fine layer of soft body hair known as lanugo. However, this hair is typically soft and fine, unlike the thick, dark facial hair seen in the viral video.

Some viewers also pointed to what they considered possible signs of digital manipulation, including apparent flickering of the moustache as the baby moves its head and differences between the lighting on the facial hair and that in the surrounding scene.

There has been no independently verified information establishing the identity of the infant or confirming the circumstances surrounding the video’s creation. The claims that it originated in Ecuador or was generated using AI also remain unverified.

While the clip has drawn attention because of its unusual appearance, excessive hair growth in infants can occur for medical reasons. One rare condition, hypertrichosis, causes excessive hair growth in areas of the body or across much of its surface.

However, the video’s appearance alone cannot establish whether the infant has a medical condition or whether the facial hair is genuine.