TikTok Challenge + Electricity = Danger

Kids who take a recent but popular app challenge on TikTok, a free social media app popular with kids, teens and young adults that allows users to watch, create and share 15-second videos, could get a whole lot more than they bargained for — a flash of fire to the face or body, an electrical fire or deadly shock. Safe Electricity and fire officials across the country are warning kids not to engage in the dangerous activity that includes a pronged charging cord cube, an electrical outlet and a penny.

The challenge involves partially plugging in a charging cube/base so that the prongs are slightly exposed, then slipping a penny between the prongs and outlet. The resulting sparks or flames can flash up into the eyes or face or cause other serious injuries, including electrocution. This recipe for disaster could also start a fire behind the wall, endangering everyone in the building. It could melt the outlet, penny, or cube and usually shorts out the outlet and damages wiring, resulting in a call to an electrician for repairs.

“The most important thing to know is that if kids or teens accept the challenge, they put themselves in extreme danger, all for a 15-second video. The outcome could vary — from burns to electrical shock to death,” warns Molly Hall, executive director of Safe Electricity/Energy Education Council.

Although TikTok has been monitoring the app and taking down any videos associated with the outlet challenge, some videos can still be accessed and kids might continue to accept the dangerous challenge. In addition, there have been other reports from across the country of kids sticking paper clips or other metal objects directly in an outlet to create a spark or flame, but doing so, just like the penny-outlet challenge, can have devastating results.

Bottom line? Kids, don’t try any of these at home.

The Energy Education Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting electrical safety and energy efficiency. Established in 1952, the Council is headquartered within University of Illinois Extension and serves as a forum for diverse utility and energy organizations to collaborate on the mutually vital issues of efficiency and safety. Learn more at EnergyEdCouncil.org and SafeElectricity.org.