If you thought the Tide pods challenge was bad, wait until you get a load of what teenage TikTokers are doing these days. Without even seeing the short videos or knowing what these trendy tricks and stunts involve, you can tell that they're dangerous just from the names. There's the “skull breaker challenge,” the “NyQuil chicken challenge,” the “pass out challenge,” and the “fire challenge.”

Other trends sound innocuous enough, although they are anything but. The corn cob challenge involves a power drill; the soy sauce challenge sees men dipping their private parts into the salty liquid; the Cha-Cha Slide challenge is a vehicular accident waiting to happen.

Parents of teenagers can talk to their kids about these dangerous activities, but teens, by their very nature, are prone to making poor decisions. Despite your best efforts, therefore, you might have to guide your child through the fallout from a dumb social media stunt. Read on to learn more about the consequences of TikTok challenges should your child have a lapse in judgment that leads to disciplinary violations.

What the Heck Is A “Devious Lick”?

Most TikTok challenges are straightforward and specific: slide a penny in between a charger unit and the electrical outlet to watch the sparks fly, try to consume a scoop of something dry, like nutmeg or protein powder, super-glue fake vampire fangs onto your real teeth.

But then there's the much-broader trend of “devious licks”—which are essentially acts of vandalism. Primarily performed by high school students, this stunt challenges kids to record themselves stealing items from school bathrooms or classrooms. Common items include paper towel and soap dispensers, mirrors, floor tiles, automatic hand dryers, and even urinals and toilets. Other targets of devious licks include fire extinguishers, computers, projectors, and lab equipment.

Serious Repercussions

Since a key aspect of devious licks is posting the video and trying to rack up views, students aren't getting away with the thefts. Even if the TikToker's identity isn't clear, others often forward the footage to school authorities. For their parts, schools are increasingly cracking down on acts of vandalism—and for good reason. Repairing and replacing items that have been damaged or gone missing is costly, and puts a strain on school district budgets that are already stretched thin. Ultimately, it's the taxpayers who end up footing the bill.

Of course, vandalism and theft of school property are in direct violation of schools' codes of conduct. The punishment depends on several situational factors, and so schools must take into account what was taken, how much damage was incurred, and how much it will cost to repair everything. A student's disciplinary record will also be considered. It's not unheard of, however, for a student to be suspended for an extended period or even expelled altogether.

Final Thoughts

As a parent, you've no doubt done your level best to teach them honesty, integrity, and respect. It's a fact of life that young people are going to make mistakes and run afoul of good sense; in many cases, such decisions—and their consequences—help to mold the teenager's moral compass. But there some mistakes are simply safer than others. It can help to remember that, while vandalism and stealing should never be condoned, the aftermath is much less severe than with TikTok challenges that are physically dangerous and potentially fatal.

If your child has participated in any TikTok challenge that involved vandalism, destruction of property, theft, or any other egregious misdeeds, don't try to handle it alone. You need the counsel of education lawyer Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm. With extensive experience helping students and their parents, Attorney Lento is uniquely positioned to broker an agreement between your child and their school that all parties are satisfied with.

Call us at 1-888-535-3683 or contact us using this form. You and your child will be glad you did.