A group of boys get upset over a Utah school toilet and watch one of them pull a mirror off the wall, hold it like a trophy, and rejoice, “Oh, we have a mirror!”
The video, which was posted on TikTok, was fueled by the latest social media fad, called the “Devious Lick” challenge.
According to TikTok videos, students across the country – and in Utah – have been filmed stealing school furniture such as mirrors, urinals and even computers, or committing acts of vandalism such as emptying soap dispensers on the floor. , spread soap on clogged walls or bathrooms.
Utah school administrators report viral trend.
Jeff Haney, a spokesman for Canyons School District, said there have been acts of vandalism or theft at all middle and high schools in Canyons District.
“It is unnecessary, the damage that occurs due to a stupid TikTok mania. We ask students to stop him before they face any serious disciplinary and police action, ”he said.
In the Canyons district, vandalism has ranged from stealing and damaging bath soap dispensers to tearing down and smashing mirrors in bathrooms and locker rooms. In one case, a mirror was taken to a busy school hallway, where it was smashed.
Toilets and toilets have been destroyed. Paper towels and toilet paper tucked into toilets have caused flooding. School exit signs have even been stolen.
The district has captured some posted videos of students stealing or damaging school property and is asking students to stop immediately.
Edited video of Utah students removing a mirror from a school bathroom that was captured as part of the national fashion of Devious Lick at TikTok that has encouraged school vandalism and theft across the county.
“We take it so seriously that we send a very clear message that, if this is done, it will be disciplined to the fullest. According to district policy, we will cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies to prosecute him to the extent of the law, ”Haney said.
Haney said it is particularly frustrating given the millions of dollars parents of students and other school district residents have paid through property taxes to rebuild and renovate district schools.
“Only in our district did we open two completely new high schools and a major renovation of a high school: Alta, Brighton and Hillcrest. All three have had acts of vandalism, “he said.
Elsewhere in Salt Lake County, school districts reported that they have also experienced theft and vandalism.
Jordan School District spokeswoman Sandy Riesgraf said the school district has had some incidents of theft “mainly affecting soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers in our bathrooms. They have also stolen things like rubbish from us.”
The granite school district has also been affected by TikTok fashion, spokesman Ben Horsley said.
“Like many districts across the nation, granite has been negatively impacted by this latest fashion on social media. A handful of our high schools have received significant damage to our bathrooms and other facilities. This vandalism is costly for “We will contact our parents to ask them for help in curbing this growing problem,” he said.
Alpine School District spokesman David Stephenson said the state’s largest school district in Utah County has also experienced problems with the TikTok challenge. Most of the damage has been limited to school restrooms.
“We appreciate parents talking to their high school students, as we will continue to investigate and those responsible for intentional destruction will be held responsible,” Stephenson said.
Aside from the possibility of school discipline or the involvement of law enforcement, the incentive to commit acts of vandalism or theft may be ending now that TikTok is removing content.
In response to a report on similar events in the Atlanta area by CBS46, a TikTok spokesman released the following statement:
“We expect our community to remain safe and responsibly created and we do not allow content that promotes or permits criminal activities. We remove this content and redirect tags and search results to our community guidelines to discourage such behavior.”