Ghosting Challenge (hoax)
A viral alert about a supposed TikTok road-stunt challenge spread through a police warning and parent groups in Quebec, but TikTok and fact-checkers found no videos of it, and the alert traced back to an account known for fake posts.
Should I worry?
You can relax on this one: no video of the challenge has been found on TikTok, and the platform says it has no trace of it. The alert came from an account that often posts false information, with a doctored image. The police warning was meant as prevention, and the police had seen no confirmed case themselves. What is real is the worry: some adults said they saw kids acting strangely near roads, but nobody can say whether those kids were influenced by the rumour. Before you share a scary alert, check whether a news outlet or the platform confirms it. A short, calm reminder about road safety is still worthwhile, with no panic.
How to join in
This is a rumour more than a trend: a viral post claimed a dangerous TikTok challenge existed, and it spread among adults far more than among teens. Your teen may have seen the news or heard it joked about at school. It's a good chance to ask what they think of how fast a fake alert travelled, and how they tell what's real online. Many teens enjoy being the one who can explain how a hoax works.
Try saying
“Hey, I heard about a scary TikTok challenge on the news, and it turns out nobody could find it anywhere, so it looks like a hoax. Have you seen anything like it, or heard people at school talk about it? Either way, I'd love to hear how you tell when something online is real.”
Sources
From Mistlift, mistlift.app. Plain talk about what kids are into online.