Police Warn Of Of Brazen TikTok Challenges Targeting Students

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Social media challenges that dare school children to "devious licks" and slapping their teachers are circulating, and over the last few weeks students have caused thousands of dollars worth of damage across multiple school districts across the nation, including in Beaumont, police are warning.

In a message Friday from the Beaumont Police Department, the agency said the social media challenges encourage students to film the deeds and post them to the social media platform TikTok.

The term "lick" means to steal items from a school or vandalize restrooms, according to Beaumont police.

"Additional TikTok challenges have been brought to our attention with each month identifying a different challenge. The October challenge, 'Slap a Teacher,' urges students to film and post videos of a student slapping a teacher or staff member," the department warned.

Beaumont police are asking parents to monitor their kids' social media and talk to them about these "challenges."

"While some may seem innocent, engaging in any activity that includes physical assault, sexual assault, battery, vandalism or other potential violations of law, will be taken seriously and fully investigated, which could result in serious criminal and/or civil consequences for involved students and their parents," police said.

Police are also asking parents to report "these types of activities."

TikTok told USA TODAY it was removing content related to the challenges, including hashtags, but TikTok users have used alternative hashtags to get around the ban, according to the news outlet.