Social media has the ability to streamline all sorts of information in a blink of an eye, whether positive or concerning. It can be challenging to separate what is factual information from elaborate schemes or ideas. A popular social media platform in the news is TikTok. TikTok allows users to post small videos of whatever they record. A lot of the videos posted are animals, food, or new dance routines, but a more recent trend has a concerning theme to it. There is a TikTok school challenge 2021-2022 list outlining acts for students to perform in their school each month. Unfortunately this list has many inappropriate suggestions. Most recently, September’s challenge was called “Devious Licks,” which involved students destroying school bathrooms. In a couple of instances students stole a water fountain in a school and another school had a student take video of a friend stealing a whole toilet! In an age where social media popularity has a lot of social importance as well perceived credibility, what is lost among this are the significant consequences from these actions. As an educational institution, it is our responsibility to educate our students on making the best decision for themselves both academically and emotionally. With the support of Northwood Police Department, Corporal Dan Gilon will be speaking with 5th-8th grade students on the pitfalls of social media and TikTok School Challenges on October 14th . Additionally, I am sharing a video clip from a school district in Massachusetts and the list of upcoming TikTok School Challenges.
Video Clip: Haverhill High School Issues Warning About October TikTok ‘Challenge’
List of upcoming TikTok School Challenges:
- September: Vandalize School Bathrooms
- October: Smack a staff member
- November: Kiss your friend’s girlfriend at school
- December: “Deck the halls and show your b***” (show your private parts)
- January: Jab a breast
- February: Mess up school signs
- March: Make a mess in the courtyard or cafeteria
- April: “Grab some eggz” (another stealing challenge)
- May: Ditch day
- June: Flip off in the front office
- July: Spray a neighbor’s fence