TikTok challenge causes skull fracture
Recently, a challenge spread among TikTok subscribers caused serious injuries among teenagers in the United Kingdom and the United States. The skull-breaking challenge involves two people kicking a third person’s legs from below, causing him to fall hard to the ground.
The company that owns the TikTok program said that it would remove this content from its platform. In an updated post, TikTok said: “We do not allow content that encourages or repeats dangerous challenges that may lead to infection on our platform. In fact, this is a violation of the platform’s guidelines and we will continue to remove this type of content from our platform on an ongoing basis in an attempt to combat this type of dangerous challenges.”
“No one wants their friends or family members to suffer such injuries as a result of filming a video clip or an attempt by some people to attract a large number of subscriptions to their accounts at the expense of others.
The TikTok platform urged users to report videos that contain this type of challenge.
BBC News reported that there is now a hashtag spread around the world under the title #skullbreakerchallenge “It reminds users not to imitate or encourage public participation in dangerous stunts and/or dangerous behavior that may result in serious injury or death.”
Some TikTok users themselves have begun posting videos warning that the prank could cause serious injury and at the time of writing, most of the content returned after a search for “skull-breaker challenge” is videos explaining the dangers urging people not to participate in such videos and challenges.
In February, a British mother, whose daughter participated in the challenge with two of her friends, wrote on Facebook: “Please, please, if you have teens doing these challenges on TikTok, do not let them share this with others. “I am sitting with my daughter who has a serious spinal injury.” Under the warning, she posted a photo of her daughter participating in the challenge in the hospital.
In New Jersey, the Camden County District Attorney’s Office said two children have been charged with third-degree aggravated assault and wanton endangerment after the fact.
Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer urged parents to talk to their children about the potential consequences of participating in a challenge of this type on social media. She said, “Although the challenge may seem funny on social media platforms, it may have health consequences that will be long-lasting if death does not occur.”
