How a TikTok trend became a health risk for Olivia Ross
By Maddie Gadbaw ‘21
TikTok is a viral sensation that has become widely popular over the past couple months. It is an app where anyone can make short videos showcasing comedy, dance, lipsync, and other talents. One student from Beaverton, Oregon recently got injured after being included in one of these TikTok trends. This inspired her to make change in her community.
In a recent survey sent to Catlin Gabel School (CGS) students, it was found that about 25% of CGS students use TikTok for up to two hours a day. Students report that they use the app for the “short videos, “comedy,” and because “it's entertaining when there's nothing else to do.” One CGS student says, “Everyone can relate to each other. It's a teen-based platform where we realize we’re all going through the same things.”
However, despite the entertainment value and popularity of TikTok, some students express a different opinion. One student shared, “It has sucked up my friends and made life worse.”
It is true that some students spend an immense amount of time on the app. About 8.5% of CGS students reported that they use TikTok for up to four hours a day, and about 5% for up to five hours.
The amount of time Catlin students spend on TikTok
There are lots of different opinions about TikTok both in the CGS community and beyond. While for most people it is just a matter of short comical videos, one member of the Portland community shares a different point of view.
Olivia Ross is a ninth grader at Mountainside High School in Beaverton, Oregon. She is involved in her school's lacrosse team and leadership programs. She also enjoys hiking, hanging out with friends, and working on Ben Bowman's campaign.
One day at school, Ross was asked to participate in a TikTok video by two upperclassmen. They informed Ross that they were all going to jump at the same time. However, when the three jumped, the two upperclassmen kicked Ross’s feet out from underneath her. Ross hit her head on the tile floor which resulted in a minor concussion. She also has Type 1 diabetes, and her blood sugar was highly impacted by this incident.
The two kids were filming a “skull-breaker challenge,” which is where two kids kick out the legs of a third member, causing them to fall to the ground. This is a trend that went viral on TikTok.
Ross believed that the other kids never meant to hurt her.
“I believe they thought it would be funny. But at the same time I think they feel bad about what happened but not about what they did,” Ross says.
Ross used her experience with the skull-breaker challenge to start Teaching Kindness Matters. This organization’s goal is to help schools draw the line between pranks and bullying.
Aline Garcia-Rubio, head of CGS Upper School, stated that CGS has a zero-tolerance policy for this sort of pranking and bullying. These guidelines are clearly stated in CGS’s Family Handbook. They include hazing, intimidation, humiliation, and physical harassment.
Ross’s experience raises important questions about apps like TikTok, where teens have the ability to go viral, sometimes at the risk of hurting others. Pranks, such as the skull-breaker challenge, are easy to get people to notice, but cross the line between a fun, comical video and bullying.
“Since this happened, I have become a lot more confident in myself. I know that my purpose is to help others and make this world a better place, which I strive to live by everyday,” says Ross.
To learn more about Olivia’s organization, visit https://www.teachingkindnessmatters.org, or follow Teaching Kindness Matters on Facebook or Instagram.