WARNING: Dangerous “Challenge” Can Get Your Michigan Kids Shot

TikTok has become one of the world's most-used social media platforms over the last couple of years. The short-video-based platform has billions of users worldwide sharing their experiences, showcasing their lifestyles, and certain skills, or simply enjoying the world around them. Some people have even turned TikTok into a source of income and have made significant money creating content. Just like anything else in the world, users on TikTok often follow popular trends that appear on the app.

The type of trends that spread around the most are the challenge trends. These are trends that can involve eating, drinking, dancing, sports, pictures, actions, etc. TikTok users would record themselves performing the required actions of the challenge and then post the video on social media hoping to gain lots of followers, likes, or other engagement. Although most of these challenges are fun and harmless, some could be dangerous.

Parents should be aware of the content that their children are digesting on their for you page, and their social media accounts, and monitor what accounts they are following on these platforms as well. Oftentimes, social media exposes children to things they shouldn't see because of the way algorithms work which means they come across challenges that aren't safe for them.

Does anybody remember the cinnamon challenge from about 10 years ago? Where challengers would try to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon, not knowing that it could close airways and cause asphyxiation, and capture the whole thing on video. This is just one example of a challenge that could be dangerous to those who try. Now, there is a popular challenge that could lead to your kid being shot if they participate.

There is a new challenge that is popular on TikTok and other social media platforms that involves kids racing up to people's front doors and banging on them aggressively and running away. Yes, this sounds like old school game of ding-dong ditch but in today's times, that's not safe.

It's no surprise that there are more firearms in the world today and in the middle of the night if someone is startled or their kids say they heard loud noises they are bound to arm themselves. Someone who is already afraid or doesn't have experience working a firearm could make a lethal mistake. So, please remind your kids that challenges like these can cause them great harm such as being shot.