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Authorities are warning the public about a new trend on TikTok because of the dangers it presents to the unsuspecting homeowner.
In this trend, users pound twice on doors with their fists or feet while Kesha's "Die Young" plays loudly in the background. Then, immediately after, they quickly run away to avoid getting caught. It's like the "ding-dong ditch" for the digital era.
Most videos take place in college campus dorm halls. However, there have been instances of frightened homeowners who fell victim to this prank, and police had to step in.
Jennifer Pritchard of the Petaluma Police Department in Petaluma, California, said the prank could become “a real life-or-death situation” since the homeowner might not be familiar with the trend.
“You don’t know what ways they’ll protect [themselves] that could cause real, real harm,” Pritchard said. “When people think their home or their family is threatened, they are going to give an equal response to protect their property or family.”
A similar situation reportedly happened to a woman in Orlando while watching TV with her family. Denise Marrs says she experienced “absolute terror” when she heard someone kicking on the door.
“It was terrifying. I mean, I can’t even express how scary it was,” Marrs told the local TV station.
After checking the Ring doorbell footage, they realized the whole thing was a prank.
Several Police Departments have received complaints from residents saying someone kicked their doors.