TikTok Trend Causing Vandalism At Fairfield Schools

FAIRFIELD, CT — A TikTok trend has resulted in students vandalizing Fairfield schools, the superintendent told parents Friday.

“The latest TikTok challenge involves students sharing videos of damage done to school property,” Superintendent Mike Cummings said in a message to school district families. “While this has been reported on as a national trend, I am sorry to say that it has reached our Fairfield Public Schools community. Student vandalism of school bathrooms has occurred in our middle and high schools. Needless to say, vandalism of school property will not be tolerated.”

Director of Communications Andrea Clark confirmed that Cummings was referring to the “devious licks” trend, which began earlier in the month and involves students stealing items from their schools and sharing them online, according to Newsweek. TikTok has since taken action to remove videos promoting the trend, and its hashtag has become unsearchable on the social media app, Newsweek reported.

In just a few weeks, the trend has escalated to students removing sinks, towel dispensers and fire alarms, according to Newsweek, which reported students have been arrested for their so-called “devious licks” in Kentucky and Florida.

In Fairfield, students involved in the vandalism have been disciplined, with penalties including detention, restorative measures, and requiring students to cover the cost to repair and replace the damage, according to Cummings.

“Our building administrators have addressed this with their respective student bodies and we appreciate how many responsible students are stepping up and calling out those involved,” he said in the message. “Now we are asking for your help. Please talk to your kids and let them know that this is not a harmless prank, but destruction of school property that has very serious consequences.”

Cummings also provided parents with a link to information about TikTok and viral internet challenges, which can be viewed at www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-tiktok.