Why A New TikTok Challenge Could Lead to Tragedy in Killeen, Texas

It might seem harmless, but there's a new TikTok challenge that could lead to a violent ending anywhere in Belton, Temple, or Killeen if the wrong person gets involved.

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You probably remember it as 'ding dong ditch'. On the short-form video/social media app, it's called the 'kick door challenge'. KBTX is reporting that the trend started in college dorms and has moved to Central Texas neighborhoods.

Here's how it works: teenagers film themselves banging on stranger's doors to the beat of Ke$ha’s song 'Die Young', then run away as fast as possible. Police are urging parents to pay close attention to their children's phones, computers, and general access to social media.

I would just stress that if you are a parent, kind of know what your kids are watching, what kind of sites they are on. You have no idea what’s on the other side of that door, who’s on the other side of that door, and how they are going to respond.

-Jonathan Shugart of the College Station Police Department

TikTok Challenge Caught on Video

According to KTVT, the challenge has been reported in North Texas as well.

One of the biggest dangers with this challenge is what could be waiting on the other side of the door. Someone could be engaging in illegal activity, have an aggressive animal, or just be mentally unstable.

The Minimum Age on TikTok

Remember when parents just had to worry about their kids listening to inappropriate music?

TikTok has billions of users - including kids under 13, who can watch videos but can’t search for or comment on them. You must be 13 or older to have an account. TikTok does have parental controls and privacy settings allowing you to completely lock-down your child's TikTok experience if that's what you want to do.

Talk to your kids, and make sure they understand the very real dangers of social media so your child doesn't become another tragic statistic.