Sudbury area mother issues warning about 'dangerous' TikTok challenge
A northern Ontario mother is warning parents and guardians about a social media challenge that tricks others into becoming an unsuspecting victim -- including her daughter, who broke her arm.
The Grade 8 student in the Greater Sudbury area now has a broken humerus after participating in what turned out to be a TikTok prank called the 'Skull Breaker Challenge', Chantelle Gorham told CTV News.
It’s now preventing her daughter from participating in her everyday activities, Gorham said.
"I’m an active ringette player, I snowboard, I’m an artist. I can’t do all that now because of my arm, so I’m angry but also upset," the teen said.
"What it entails is two people approach a third person, that third person is normally in the middle and they say 'okay we’re all going to jump' and so you jump and the outside people instead of jumping, take out the feet of the middle person that is jumping," the concerned parent said.
"Ultimately, the goal is to cause damage to break your skull because they often land on their head."
Gorham wants parents, guardians, as well as other children to know that this TikTok prank is still circulating and to be aware of the damage it could cause.
"Your kids are at risk. If someone asks them to jump, it’s no longer an innocuous suggestion or game. There could be some serious damage and people need to know how violent that fall is when you’re airborne and someone takes your legs out from under you," she said.
The Greater Sudbury Police Service is investigating the incident and said there could be serious consequences when it comes to certain trends and challenges on social media.
"There are some that are dangerous to yourself and others and in those situations, criminal charges could apply, including mischief, theft, assault, sexual assault, indecent acts," said Kaitlyn Dunn, a spokesperson for Sudbury police.
"So, really taking into mind why you’re doing the challenge and what the outcome could be. No trend or challenge is worth a criminal charge in order to gain viewership."
A Sudbury-based agency called Compass, which deals with child and youth mental health, said although teenagers may physically look mature, their brains are still developing.
"Part of your brain that’s developing, that controls what we call 'executive functioning,' which is your decision making, risk assessment, being able to think about if and when, is really in development," said Heather Haynes, a clinical manager with Compass.
"So, teenagers, generally speaking, have limited capacity to think about the consequences of their actions."
As for Gorham’s daughter, she will be seen by her doctor in a couple of weeks and it will be determined at that point if she will need surgery.
Social media challenges and trends invite people to create their own videos based on performing a certain task.
In its Community Guidelines, TikTok said, "We do not permit users to share content depicting, promoting, normalizing or glorifying dangerous acts that may lead to serious injury or death. We also do not allow content which promotes or endorses collective participation in dangerous or harmful activities that violate any aspect of our community guidelines."
The social media platform advises users to report to them content that violates the community guidelines.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.