Online challenges

When thinking about whether a challenge is safe for you or others, ask yourself:

• What could have gone wrong?
• Does the person doing the challenge have specialist skills or training?
• Does it look like they did anything to minimize risk?
• If so, was it enough to ensure no one got hurt or did they just get lucky?
• Are the things they did to minimize risk available to you?
• If you tried the challenge, how confident are you that you or others wouldn’t get hurt?
• If you or someone else got seriously hurt, how would that affect your life?
• How would it affect your family and friends’ lives?

Some risks are obvious but others are more complicated and less easy to spot. If you’re not sure, you can search online for information from trusted sources or check with friends. If you’re a teen, ask an adult you trust. Most adults in your life have an instinct to protect you and want to be helpful, so they’re a great source of support and advice. They can help you understand what you’ve seen, and work out if the challenge is a safe thing to do.

If you decide the challenge is too risky, or you’re not sure, don’t do it.

Some online challenges may not carry a risk of injury but may cause harm in other ways. Ask yourself:

• If the challenge involves ‘pranking’ someone, how will it make that person feel?
• Is it respectful of others’ personal boundaries and rights?
• Could doing the challenges result in damage to property?
• What consequences might you face if you do the challenge?

Challenges or dares that cause embarrassment or distress aren’t funny. Harassment or abuse, damage to property and criminal behaviors are always unacceptable.

If you see a challenge or viral warning, be alert to the possibility that it may be a hoax or a rumor that has gained momentum. Ask yourself:

• Is the challenge or dare something people are actually doing or is it a joke?
• If it’s a viral warning, does it come from a credible source?
• Does it seem like the person sharing the content has first-hand knowledge or are they just repeating something they’ve heard elsewhere?
• Is the report measured and calm or does it include dramatic or exciting language?
• Is the warning similar to ones you’ve received before?

The great thing about online communities is everyone involved plays a role in deciding whether content falls flat or goes viral. Liking, sharing and leaving positive comments are all ways to show your support for a video. Does the video deserve your support?

TikTok does not reward creators who post harmful content. If a challenge is harmful, don’t share it or like it. If a challenge gains traction, others are more likely to see it and be tempted to do it. Even though it may seem helpful, creating videos to warn others about harmful challenges often increase the popularity of something you don’t want people to see or unintentionally provide details about how to do something that is dangerous.

If you see a warning about a challenge, don’t pass it on. Sharing warnings increases the number of people who are exposed to a harmful challenge or hoax. In the case of hoaxes, it also makes them seem more credible.

Yes. We remove content that features dangerous, harmful or criminal behaviors. We will also remove videos that discuss dangerous challenges if they contain unfounded warnings which seek to spread fear and panic, or include instructions or depictions of harmful behavior. If you’re not sure whether a video is potentially harmful, report it to us and we’ll take a look. If you believe someone is in immediate harm, you should contact law enforcement.