KETTERING — The latest viral social media challenge involves damaging school bathrooms and school districts are warning students and parents of consequences for damage caused in their buildings.
>>RELATED: Schools warn of TikTok challenge that is leaving restrooms damaged, punishment that could result
School districts across the country have reported a popular challenge, known either as “The Bathroom Challenge” or “The Devious Lick Challenge” that’s gained popularity mainly through TikTok in recent days.
The challenge involves people destroying or stealing things from school bathrooms, like sinks, soap and paper towel dispensers, among others.
Kettering schools sent out a message to parents Thursday, warning parents of consequences for their children if they’re caught damaging or destroying bathrooms.
“Please talk to your children and underscore the fact that we take this type of behavior very seriously and it will not be tolerated in our schools. While some students may think this type of behavior is funny, make no mistake that pulling soap dispensers off walls and removing them from school bathrooms is vandalism and theft,” Kettering City Schools student services supervisor Rick Early and Fairmont High School principal Tyler Alexander said in a joint statement.
“If it is determined that a student is engaging in this type of activity, there will be consequences for the student, including suspension, possible expulsion and possible criminal charges.”
In Kettering, the challenge has been found in the middle and high school, but its impacted nearly everyone in the district, KCS Assistant Superintendent Dan Vonhandorf told News Center 7′s Kayla Courvell Friday.
“Frankly we have better things to do than watch cameras to see what students are going in what areas,” Vonhandorf said.
“We’re looking at this as a student safety issue. Kids deserve to have a safe healthy school environment, we want kids in school, we’re working to make sure were doing what we can to make sure they stay in school and stay healthy. They deserve that, and it really erodes our ability to do that.”
A TikTok spokesperson said the social media platform will remove videos posted that depict damaging or destroying bathrooms.
“We expect our community to stay safe and create responsibly, and we do not allow content that promotes or enables criminal activities. We are removing this content and redirecting hashtags and search results to our Community Guidelines to discourage such behavior,” the spokesperson said.
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