TikTok is an app that has recently become popular among both teens and adults. At first glance, this social media platform consists of different dances and videos meant to make you laugh. While there is an abundance of dances on TikTok, the app contains many dangers too. It is crucial to always express caution when using not only TikTok, but social media in general.

On TikTok, many people create and replicate dances, but challenges are also prominent on the app. Recently, there has been a rise in particularly dangerous challenges. One of which being the “Skullbreaker Challenge.” This challenge features three people, and two of them tell the other to stand in between them and jump. When the individual standing in the middle jumps, the other two kick their legs out from under them. This causes the individual to fall onto the ground harshly. This challenge has led to concussions, skull fractures and hospitalizations. The reason for outrage is not only the danger of the challenge, but the fact that the individual told to stand in the middle is normally unaware of the stunt they are truly participating in. 

Another dangerous challenge is the Benadryl challenge. This challenge exhibits teens taking Benadryl until they begin hallucinating and essentially overdose on Benadryl for a TikTok. One teen has already died, and another was put in the hospital from this challenge. Even though this challenge is voluntary, and the participants know what they are doing, it is still incredibly unsafe.

People ages 10 to 29 make up 62 percent of American Tik Tok users. These ages, especially the younger ones, are very impressionable. Having impressionable teens and adults on an app where anything can be posted has proven itself a very dangerous situation. These challenges were swiftly removed from the interface once the dangers came to light, but it does not take long for children to get the message, good or bad. 

On an app with an abundance of videos, it is almost inevitable that dangerous situations will present themselves. It is not entirely the teens fault for seeing a video and wanting to replicate it. They saw something funny or interesting and wanted to test it out for themselves. Most teens have almost all seen someone do something funny or cool and wanted to try it themselves. They see an older creator who they look up to who made a bad decision, not realizing how it would affect their impressionable audience. 

Along with dangerous challenges, TikTok has also had graphic and harmful videos and images circulated. Videos of gruesome injuries, wounds and accidents have made their way to TikTok and been unintentionally seen by many. 

While the dangerous challenges and graphic videos are not TikTok’s fault, there should be more guidelines put in place when it comes to what can be posted and viewed on the app. On Instagram, when a video or image is detected as graphic or a potentially harmful act, there is a warning before it allows you to see the media. If the viewer decides they would rather not see the image, they simply continue scrolling and do not click the “ok” button. This feature would be very helpful to many on TikTok. The app does have a small disclaimer placed at the bottom of the screen if potentially harmful, but it does not stop one from viewing the video. 

Ultimately, TikTok has it’s very fair share of graphic and harmful videos, and it is not the teens fault for viewing them. Though it is important that all users understand the risks that can come with such dangerous challenges and educate themselves before replicating the media, caution should always be used while on social media.