The Chinese platform TikTok has always been the scene of various challenges and other initiatives followed by countless users. Trends (or “trends”) that sometimes turn out to be amusing, even almost “useful“, but which very often relate more to a profound debility, when they are not dangerous. Recently, the new fashion is “Door Kicking”, a trend which is illustrated by the act of violently kicking the door of a house. There you go, there you go…
So what? Yet another stupid (and dangerous) challenge on TikTok
A few weeks ago, simply opening your refrigerator could make you a TikTok star, with “fridgescaping”. But for several weeks in the United States, a new TikTok trend has been less innocent, since Internet users have filmed themselves kicking in the doors of certain houses and apartments, before fleeing… and broadcasting the everything on TikTok.
Obviously, if some TikTok users revel in this new challenge, it is far from pleasing the “victims”, i.e. the owners of the targeted houses and apartments. Besides, what’s more distressing than hearing, in the middle of the night, knocking on your home door? We understand better why Canada decided to ban TikTok from its territory, citing “national security risks“.
Some local police warn: “When people believe their home or family is threatened, they may respond to protect their property or family.” In addition to significant property damage, with some owners having to pay more than $700 for repairs, the practice can be very dangerous, given (among other things) the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
“Where I live, it’s a house trespass. You are literally risking your life“. “Che challenges are stupid and TikTok is a dangerous thing!” “An elderly or sick person may have a heart attack or seizures” we can read in particular on social networks, from certain Americans, obviously worried.
Many owners are also unaware of the existence of this TikTok challenge, which went viral for the first time in 2021, and may therefore mistake the “pranksters” for real burglars. According to some police departments, people who are unfamiliar with social media trends may interpret the joke as ” a true life or death situation “.
