LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — Loudoun County Public Schools sent out a letter to the school community warning about the dangers of several TikTok challenges encouraging students to vandalize, harass and steal random things on school property.
LCPS said although their schools were not hit hard by the recent September challenge, known as "Devious Licks," where students damaged and stole property from schools, officials are concerned about the continuous challenges to come.
According to LCPS, there are several upcoming dangerous and almost criminal challenges that have been widely shared for the rest of this year into 2022.
Here's the list of TikTok challenges the school system has accumulated thus far:
- October: Smack a staff member on the backside.
- November: Kiss your friend’s girlfriend at school.
- December: Deck the halls and show your b****.
- January: Jab a breast.
- February: Mess up school signs.
- March: Make a mess in the courtyard or cafeteria.
- April: Grab some “eggs” (another theft challenge).
- May: Ditch Day.
- June: Flip off the front office.
The school system is asking parents to have a conversation with their children about the serious dangers and disciplinary actions that could take place if they are done.
"Please offer your guidance and talk with your students. You may be surprised that your child knows exactly what this challenge is about, and can tell you people they know who've engaged in it," said Dr. Douglas Fulton, Director of School Administration for Loudoun County Public Schools.
The TikTok trend "Devious Licks" already has multiple teenagers in Stafford County facing criminal charges. The Stafford County Sheriff's Office said the challenge lead to two teens taking soap dispensers from the bathrooms at North Stafford High School Friday. The teens were identified and now face school disciplinary and criminal charges.
On the same day, six students snuck off Stafford High School's campus during lunch to Chichester Park, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office said. A deputy and school resource officer spotted the group after one of the teens allegedly ripped soap dispensers from the wall of the park bathroom and damaged a bathroom door. While only one teen from the group will face criminal charges, all six students are facing punishment for having left school grounds.
Dr. Ryan Daniel, the principal at Fort Foote Elementary school in Prince George's County has also fallen victim to TikTok challenges. Earlier this year, she said students were participating in the "Devious Challenge" and yanked soap dispensers off of the walls in some of the bathrooms at the school.
In her five years as an elementary school principal, Dr. Daniel said she's noticed more students wanted to create a digital footprint at a younger age.
“That peer pressure, this desire to have a presence on social media, and they want to keep up with their friends, their big brothers, big sisters and cousins, and it's cool for them,” Dr. Daniel said.
At Fort Foote Elementary, they have a positive behavior incentive system where they focus on the good that happens throughout the school. For the most part, they say it’s working. After the incident at the school, she said they had a "family meeting" of sorts to ensure students and parents understood the consequences of their actions and how to discuss the positives of using social media.
"We’ve been trying to show them the right ways to use it, to have a positive presences on social media,” Dr. Daniel added.
TikTok has already proactively banned the content from its platform.
RELATED: Virginia teens face criminal charges after allegedly participating in viral TikTok challenge
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