Some parents are growing anxious and worried that their kids will do the viral TikTok "Kick Door Challenge" and land into trouble with the authorities for a potential home invasion charge. While the kids may see this as a harmless prank, police officials warn that there could be serious consequences to participating in the popular game.
Sheriff Marty Boyd in Arkansas said via KAIT that parents should speak to their kids against doing the TikTok Kick Door Challenge as it has been under the radar among law enforcement officers in recent months. The game is similar to "ding dong ditch," where kids knock on their neighbors' door or activate the doorbell and then hurriedly run away to avoid getting caught.
But for TikTok, the kids kick and bang on the door to the beat of "Die Young" by Ke$ha. The challenge was first seen among college dormitories, but it has spilled over the neighborhoods.
@i_am_the_one73 Mans kicked the door in #dieyoung #doorchallenge #kesha ♬ Ke$ha - Die Young - 辰歌
Read Also : New California Bill Will Let Parents Sue Snapchat, TikTok, or Meta for Social Media Addiction
Texas Mom Terrified of Harmless Fun's Consequences
A Texas mom told CBS News that she was left terrified when she learned that her 12-year-old son did the TikTok kick door challenge. An encounter with a nearby homeowner almost turned bad that her son came home in tears.
The mother said that after the incident, his son couldn't sleep much because of the thought that he could have been shot dead that day. The boy's parents, who have remained unnamed to protect their privacy, have taken responsibility for their son and have personally apologized to their neighbor. The boy has also expressed his remorse and promised to make amends.
The 12-year-old was not allowed by his parents to have TikTok on his phone, but his friends all have access to the video-sharing app. Because of this experience, the parents want to warn other moms and dads to talk to their kids about these trending challenges or ban the social app altogether as it is for their children's safety. The mother reminded parents that there are people who will not second-guess harming kids if it means defending themselves.
"A Real Life or Death Situation"
Jonathan Shugart, who works with the Texas Police Department, said that kids do not know what the person on the other side of the door plans to do, especially if they hear a forceful banging on their door. The homeowner might have a gun and decide to shoot without looking because his goal is to protect his house from potential intruders.
In California, Jennifer Pritchard of the Petaluma Police Department told Fox News that the TikTok "Kick Door Challenge" may bring about a real-life or death situation.
In a post on Facebook, her agency stated that kids do this dare at night, making it even more dangerous as the homeowners will do everything to defend themselves and their property from what they think might be threats of violence. The kicking and banging might also be traumatic for homeowners who are seniors, with special needs, or maybe suffering from severe anxiety.
"The Petaluma Police Department is asking community members to both speak to their children about abstaining from this challenge," the advisory stated. "We're encouraging homeowners to report this activity to our department."
Meanwhile, Frederick Marien, a 19-year-old college kid, said that he found out about the dare on TikTok last summer, and he understood why someone might get into trouble for it. Amari Washington, 10, agreed that parents should check their kids' activities online because "TikTok can be really bad for kids."
Related Article: TikTok Gel Gun Challenge Leads to Arrest of 6 Teen Pranksters
