Why Do Kids Keep Falling for Dangerous TikTok Trends?

You may know TikTok as the source of funny videos, but it is infamous for another reason. Sadly, it has been the source of harmful online trends.

The internet is a part of daily life whether we like it or not. You cannot take children away from it. Instead, you should know how to keep your kids safe online.

This article will explain why children are susceptible to dangerous TikTok trends. More importantly, we will discuss how to secure them against these online challenges.

Why do children fall for dangerous TikTok trends? 

Let us go back to 2020, during the start of the COVID pandemic. Did you feel weary about reading about it again? Children felt the same way back then.

Most countries have closed their borders and kept citizens indoors. Children could not attend classes or resume other outdoor activities.

How will they spend their free time? They turned to the only thing always there with them: their phones. It linked to the internet, where everyone else hung out.

They found a community that was not available during the lockdowns. Eventually, the members started sharing ways they spent their time. 

Some folks did productive activities like growing food at home or caring for a Monstera plant. Unfortunately, others did more outrageous things, usually out of sheer boredom.

Thus, dangerous TikTok trends spread among the youth. Humans are social creatures who want to feel accepted, and kids do not want to feel left out. 

That is why children follow online challenges, no matter how ridiculous they are. After all, posting a clip of following them yourself works like a “badge of honor.”

Consequently, kids feel accepted and esteemed. Unfortunately, these “rites of passage” sometimes break the law and harm people’s health.

One of the most recent ones was called “Nyquil Chicken,” which involved roasting poultry marinated in cough syrup. Another is the “Kia Boyz” trend.

People found ways to hotwire old Kia vehicles by connecting a USB cord to them. In response, children tried the online challenge on unsuspecting vehicles.

How to protect children from dangerous TikTok trends

Photo Credit: www.huffpost.com

Before the 2000s, you could simply keep your children from using the internet. It was not an integral part of our lives. Kids could do stuff outside of it. 

Nowadays, children need it to study. Schools send homework online, and students usually answer it through internet research.

Groupwork requires them to coordinate with classmates via Messenger and even Discord. More importantly, they will struggle to talk to other kids if they have no idea about the internet.

Fortunately, that does not mean they have no protection against harmful online fads. You can start by letting your kid do other things outside the internet.

They could play sports, learn an instrument, or get into another hobby. Also, you could enroll them in a class so that they could meet others with the same interests. 

Consequently, your kid develops a sense of self that consists of various aspects. They can define themselves with their hobbies, friends, and even religion instead of the internet alone.

You may also set realistic expectations for your son or daughter. Meanwhile, foster a positive and accepting attitude for your child. Consequently, they are unlikely to crave online acceptance.

Conclusion

People constantly spread new dangerous TikTok trends. Fortunately, you can protect your kids by letting them focus on hobbies and other positive activities.

More importantly, you should keep up with these online challenges yourself. The right information can facilitate maintaining your kids’ online safety.

Fortunately, Inquirer USA can help. Follow the latest articles to learn about news and trends as soon as possible.