TikTok Challenge "Devious Licks" Has Hit Rhode Island Schools and Is Sparking Vandalism

GoLocalProv News Team

TikTok Challenge "Devious Licks" Has Hit Rhode Island Schools and Is Sparking Vandalism

Thompson Middle School was reportedly vandalized -- linked to TikTok challenge
Multiple sources associated with Thompson Middle School in Newport tell GoLocal that a bathroom was reportedly damaged as the result of a recent TikTok challenge.

The challenges are called “Devious Licks” on the social media platform and are leading to vandalism in schools in Rhode Island and across the country.

The Newport School Department's public relations firm Advocacy Solutions said the school had no comment. 

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However, teachers at Thompson voiced concerns about the damage and the impact of the challenges. Teachers requested their names not be disclosed fearing retribution from the school’s administration.

Thompson Middle School is one of the lowest-performing in the state.  SEE MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE BELOW

Gaudet Middle School in Middletown was also vandalized as a result of the social media challenge, according to a report in the Newport Daily News.

 

The TikTok challenge "Devious Licks" has caused damage to schools across the country
Monthly Challenges

The September challenge -- vandalize the school bathroom -- has hit hundreds of schools across the country. And, additional challenges are supposed to hit schools each month.

In October, the challenge is “Smack a Staff Member.”

According to the posts on the social media platform the schools face the following monthly challenges:

 

November: Kiss your friend's girlfriend at school

December: Deck the halls and show your ***

January: Jab a breast

February: Mess up the school signs

March: Make a mess in the courtyard or cafeteria

April: “Grab some eggs.” (Another stealing challenge)

May: Ditch Day

June: Flip off the front office

TikTok app linked to multiple controversies
Ten days ago, TikTok announced it was banning "Devious Licks" videos on the platform, saying they violate the app's community guidelines, but that has not slowed the phenomenon in Rhode Island or across the country.

After the dangerous milk crate challenge and hundreds of reported injuries, the company issued a statement.

“TikTok prohibits content that promotes or glorifies dangerous acts, and we remove videos and redirect searches to our Community Guidelines to discourage such content,” the social media platform said in a statement. “We encourage everyone to exercise caution in their behavior whether online or off.”

TikTok has been a highly controversial and popular social media platform. Members of Congress have warned about the platform's security breaches and links to the central government in China, some countries have blocked the app, and Amazon once banned the use of the platform for its employees and then reversed course.


Rhode Island's Worst Performing Middle Schools - July 1, 2019

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