Ohio School Safety Center warns of new TikTok challenge called ‘Slap a Teacher’
COLUMBUS, Ohio October 7 2021
The Ohio School Safety Center is sending a warning about a new TikTok challenge that’s targeting educators.
The center says the latest challenge this month is called “Slap a Teacher” and the challenge encourages students to slap a teacher or staff member and run away before being caught. Officials said the incident must be filmed or it “doesn’t count.”
According to the center, TikTok is addressing these trends by deleting videos and reporting hashtags used regarding these challenges as a violation of community guidelines. The videos can, however, still be found on the app by using different hashtags or variations or misspellings of the terms.
Several schools across Ohio are warning students about the potential repercussions they could face if they participate in the challenge.
This comes weeks after students were stealing or destroying school property, all for a viral TikTok challenge called “devious licks” on social media.
Schools across Greater Cincinnati reported damaged water fountains and soap dispensers.
Several students were charged in relation to the “devious licks” incidents.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine created the Ohio School Safety Center within Ohio Homeland Security in 2019 to help Ohio schools with acts of violence.
