Viral ‘door-kick' TikTok challenge sparks concern among authorities, parents

India Today

2 days ago

A new social media trend, "door-kick challenge", is sweeping across the United States, leaving authorities and parents deeply concerned. The viral prank takes the old 'ding-dong ditch' to a dangerous new level. Instead of simply ringing doorbells and running away, teens now violently kick random doors, often in the middle of the night, and sometimes even damage property. Videos of these incidents are then uploaded online in the hope of gaining views and going viral on social media platforms.NEW 'door kick challenge' has masked teens kicking down front doors to fire realistic fake guns (airsoft rifles) in alarming internet challenge in Florida—police warn 'Not a joke'.This is not going to end well, likely in a shooting. pic.twitter.com/RvAx0lUlv4— Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) July 24, 2025advertisementAccording to The Independent, Law enforcement officials warn that this challenge could easily lead to tragedy. 'That's a good way to end up dead,' said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. "Especially in Florida. You've got to think you're about to become a victim of a home invasion robbery and, under the Castle doctrine, you're gonna shoot first and ask questions later.'In Las Vegas, a homeowner reported $5,000 in property damage after pranksters kicked his door at 3 am, while he and his pregnant girlfriend were sleeping. In Florida, two teenagers face felony burglary charges after a similar incident.
DEADLY OUTCOMES ALREADY RECORDED Some of these pranks have already resulted in fatalities. In May, an 18-year-old lacrosse player was allegedly shot dead by a homeowner in Virginia. His friend claimed it was just a TikTok prank. In another case, a California man, Anurag Chandra, chased down and killed three teens after a doorbell prank in 2020, as reported by The Independent.Experts believe social media platforms are partly to blame. Marc Berkman of the Organisation for Social Media Safety noted that teens are driven to create extreme content to gain likes and followers. Parenting expert Titania Jordan explained that such challenges have always existed, but the internet has amplified their reach and risk.Jordan advises parents to talk regularly with their children about what they watch and share online. 'Open dialogue is your best defence,' she said, urging families to monitor trends and use parental controls to stay informed.As the trend spreads across states, including California, Texas, Michigan, and Maryland, authorities stress that what seems like a harmless prank could end in irreversible consequences, either with a criminal charge or the loss of life.- Ends