The logo for the nationwide app, TikTok, where students are learning about the devious lick and “slap a teacher” trend. photo by Grace Leonard
Two social media trends that students are partaking in at school have caused danger and destruction.
TikTok is a popular social media site that includes teenage users. Research has been conducted and shows how much teenagers spend on the app daily. “A new study has shown younger people ages four to eighteen spend an average of 80 minutes per day on the app” (Wallaroo Media). As a result, teens are being influenced to join trends that have recently consisted of vandalism, theft, and harassment at schools. In 2021 school year students have started to participate in the trend, devious licks. The name for devious licks goes back to Urban Dictionary’s definition of a “lick” as being “a successful type of theft which is viewed as acceptable, rewarding, and even impressive.” As a result of this trend, students around the U.S. have been arrested and criminally charged after many reports of theft at schools. Adding to the chaos is another trend started on TikTok, the “slap a teacher challenge,” in which students videotape themselves hitting teachers on the back of the head and then upload it onto the social media site. These two most recent trends take place in schools, which have had negative effects on school environments and increased safety precautions.
In the United States, schools are experiencing thousands of dollars worth of damage and theft as students have been influenced by social media to take part in the devious lick TikTok trend in exchange for clout, influence, or power. The AVON Indiana Community School Corporation believes that students are participating in the trend because “they think that that’s it and no harm no foul, and that’s really not the case” (ABC WRTV). Although students who participate in these trends find them to be a “prank,” schools have been deeply impacted by their actions. As a result, schools have been identifying students who are participating in these trends in order to file criminal charges against them, while also making them pay restitution. However, as students are receiving popularity from these trends, schools are struggling to make a change in students’ behavior. School districts have implemented temporary bathroom procedures: students need to be with an adult to use the restroom and are closed due to repairs. At TJ specifically, bathrooms are locked during lunch to reduce destruction. Schools have come up with these solutions to stop students from stealing and vandalizing school restrooms.
Officials and schools grow more concerned about the other TikTok trend, known as “slap a teacher,” after an elementary school student hit a teacher in the back of the head. The violent behavior schools have seen from students is very alarming as more students are being exposed to dangerous trends from the social media site. Schools have implemented more protection for teachers and staff members. A federal push has been set in place to investigate threats educators are facing at work. According to The Washington Post, Attorney General Merrick Garland has ordered the FBI to address a spike in harassment and threats towards teachers and other school board members. Districts are outraged as the devious lick and “slap a teacher” trends are not a prank but instead criminal behavior.
In response to the trends, TikTok claims to actively be involved in controlling the spread of dangerous content as they “scrub videos and hashtags associated with the trend from its platform” (The Washington Post). However, they share that people are also learning about these trends from other sources and that they do their best to promote positivity and a safe environment. An attorney from Connecticut, General William Tong, disagrees with TikTok’s efforts and says that the social media site “fails to control the spread of dangerous content.” There are many people who share these sentiments, arguing that TikTok is not promoting a safe environment as schools continue to deal with damage.
Luckily the TikTok trends, the devious licks and “slap a teacher” are starting to fade as new trends are introduced. Although teenagers have moved on to the next trend, schools are still recovering from the cost of damage and theft that they experienced because of these TikTok trends.
