Viral social media platform TikTok has made waves in the KZN area with school pupils participating in challenges that have raised eyebrows and tempers. These include the “bring anything but a bag to school challenge”, “the Umlando challenge”, which has pupils shaking their hips in unconventional ways, and the cross-dresser challenge.
While these challenges are supposed to be fun, they have taken a turn towards the chaotic and have been disruptive at schools as they are done without the consent of principals or teachers. Recently, pupils from different schools in Phoenix, Durban, participated in the cross-dressing challenge which soon spiralled out of control. The male pupils wore girls’ uniforms and vice versa.
According to Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, on February 21 pupils in the area embarked on rebellious behaviour by illegally gathering in groups, stoning vehicles, disrupting classes and damaging school property. “One of the motives behind this is that they were allegedly following a TikTok challenge, where the video challenged cross- dressing where male pupils must wear skirts to school. They decided to move to Woodview Park, chanting, and running around with sticks in the park.”
Mbhele added that the police were called and the crowd was dispersed. This sparked concern from the public and the Department of Education. Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi urged parents to work with the department to stop the chaos, saying these challenges are dangerous. “They waste school time as learners focus on taking these videos instead of focusing on their schoolwork. Learners must use their data to do their school work.”
Word of more TikTok challenge gatherings to take place at more schools in KZN went viral on Thursday. This is, however, not the first time TikTok challenges have raised concerns. In 2020, the platform had to delete the “skull breaker” challenge after it was deemed dangerous by doctors in the United Kingdom and the United States.
This challenge involved three pupils standing next to each other. The one in the middle would have to jump up while the two on the sides kick both legs of the jumper — resulting in the jumper falling headfirst — to see if he would crack his skull. The challenge left many pupils seriously injured. Parents were called to intervene and warn their children about the dangers of the challenge. Pupils were also warned of facing jail time for participating in the challenge.
BBC news reported that TikTok responded by saying they do not allow that encourages or replicates dangerous challenges that might lead to injury and deleted the challenge. Sibonginkosi Mabika (23) said he stopped participating in TikTok because it was very addictive.
“I deleted TikTok because it was very addictive, I would stay up till late watching videos and that is not healthy. People are easily influenced by these videos, so I can see why these children are doing these challenges and going on the rampage,” said Mabika.
Meanwhile, Mandisa Magubane (25), said she joined TikTok for the fun of it. “I downloaded the app only to discover a whole world of goofy creation that I feel has never been tapped into. Also, nowadays people consume video more than written because it is easier and less time consuming, although we spend hours on TikTok,” said Magubane.
IT’S A NEED FOR ACCEPTANCE
An educational psychologist and DUT lecturer Nosipho Mkhwanazi to get a professional’s perspective about the TikTok challenges within pupils at school. “Humans are social beings that have a need to seek approval and acceptance from the people around them. Social media has become a large part of the society where people may feel a need to be recognised and accepted by others.
“It’s a pity that the most immoral behaviours or tendency seem to get more recognition in social media. “Therefore, it is becoming the ‘norm’ for people to go the extra mile in following social media trends just because they want to be followed or recognised by others,” said Mkhwanazi.
Sources:
https://www.news24.com/witness/news/kzn/concern-as-tiktok-challenges-become-more-chaotic-at-kzn-schools-20220226
Content created and supplied by: MBCNetwork (via Opera
News )
, . , . () , , , , , , , , . / , and/or . , , and/or , and/or