Tik Tok Takeover

Story by: Shai Nettles

From viral dances and outrageous challenges to spreading disinformation, Tik Tok is a focal point of Gen Z’s engagement with the digital world. Tik Tok has been a major influence in the lives of many teens across the globe and that does not exclude Eudora High School.

Tik Tok is a platform made for self expression, yet it seems to have become problematic.
“It is important for students to know the consequences for these behaviors including suspension from school and a police report… To be clear, we will not tolerate this type of criminal behavior and disrespect to our schools and staff,” wrote Mark Dodge, Director of USD 491 School Improvement and Communications.

Eudora School District is trying to bring awareness to the new destructive Tik Tok Trend: “#DeviousLicks”. USD 491 is also encouraging parents to have conversations with their students about the implication of being caught damaging and stealing school property.

The term “devious licks” can be a little confusing for some. Lick is a slang term and is considered a steal or a type of theft. A devious person, on the other hand, is a person who lies to get their way or acts in a misbehaving manner.

The Tik Tok trend is made up of mostly high school students stealing and vandalizing items on school property. For example, in the men’s restroom, soap dispensers, sinks and paper towel dispensers are all items on school property that have been vandalized here at EHS. However, across the nation, students have taken the trend as far as destroying teacher’s car doors, stealing SMART board projectors, and ripping fire alarms off of the school walls.

In West Des Moines Iowa, their police department made a statement saying, “Kids, just know that if you get caught doing the challenge, your phone will probably be seized as evidence and it may take a long time to get it returned, if ever. If you are in schools or at sporting events, know we will be keeping an extra eye out for this.”

While some destructions may be more severe than others, any vandalism on school property is severe. Even here at EHS, the Eudora Police Department may be involved. Schools across the country, including ours, have taken precautionary measures in order to protect and stop the spread of vandalism in our schools. Some students have served suspension for the destruction of our bathrooms already.

In mid-September Mr. Abel enforced the “bathroom sign-out” rule. Every student who needs to use the restroom in the building must sign their name on a sheet of paper and leave their phones (in case of Tik Tok filming) with their teacher. They also must write the time they leave to use the restroom and the time they come back. This requirement was put in place in hopes to prevent the Tik Tok trend from going any further.

Our custodial staff has gone above and beyond. Tammy Hodges, head custodian, explained, “It [Tik Tok trend] is sad, to the custodial staff because we try to keep facilities looking nice and clean for all that visit our schools. It is a selfless act, the students do not think of the consequences that might happen when caught.”

On a daily basis our custodians take care of our school and work hard to ensure that students, staff, and administration are happy. The trend on it’s own, takes a toll on our custodians.

“The students rely on social media to get attention and it worsens when others think it is funny and they proceed to do more when encouraged,” said Hodges. “It is disrespect to us from some students that [don’t] understand what it takes to keep facilities maintained, [however] there is a lot of support from our faculty and administration.”