Some Fayetteville-area students are seeing another viral challenge that's made the rounds on social media.
This time around, the TikTok challenge may have some serious consequences for kids. It's calling for students to slap their teachers.
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School leaders and law enforcement are concerned about students taking on the challenge and the actions they plan to take against any students who carry it out. That's why school administrators in Cumberland County are taking an aggressive step against the most recent version of the challenge.
Some TikTok Challenges can be painful to watch and even more painful to take part in. Countless people were injured attempting the Milk Crate Challenge. And in recent weeks, school systems across the country experienced thousands of dollars in damage when students destroyed property during the TikTok Bathroom Challenge.
In September, school officials at Wakefield Middle School had to limit students' bathroom time after a disturbing TikTok trend led students to vandalize bathrooms. Students broke toilets, pulled sinks off walls, removed soap dispensers from the walls and broke water vents and pipes.
Lindsay Whitley, spokesperson for the Cumberland County Schools, said he's aware of this month's TikTok Challenge that calls for students to slap school employees. They've sent out information warning parents about the challenge. Whitley said based on the previous month's challenge, the district had just less than an estimated $5000 worth of damage.
"We've shared information with our families via parent link, which is our robo-calling system," Whitley said. "We've sent an email, a voice mail as well as a text message."
That message says, in part, participating in the challenges may result in juvenile or criminal charges in addition to consequences under the student Code of Conduct.
Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright isn't mincing his words. His says his school resource officers and his department are ready to file charges.
"That's very serious. That's assault. That's a criminal offense," Wright said. "That could keep you from getting a job, from going to certain schools when you get ready to graduate. These TikTok challenges, young people, you need to take them serious. Don't get involved."
Administrators say they're taking the aggressive action so that they can stop the challenge before someone gets hurt or charged.