TikTok’s safety policies prohibit the promotion of violence and other harmful content but often fail to prevent the spread of dangerous viral trends.
A lecturer in podiatric medicine has warned about a “troubling” TikTok trend encouraging people to drop heavy objects on their feet.
Using the hashtag #droppingthingsonmyfoot, hundreds of users have shared videos of them dropping heavy objects on their feet, including an air fryer, a vacuum cleaner, a glass jug and a wooden table.
The creators then rank how much pain each item causes.
One of them is Luke Pilling from Bolton, who received more than one million views sharing a video of him jumping around his room in pain after dropping a candle holder, pan, dart board, air fryer and computer monitor on his feet.
To build his platform, Pilling continued with more feet-crushing content.
In a video with four million views, he hits hits objects against his shin, sharing an image of his bruise at the end of the clip.
Dr Benjamin Bullen, lecturer in podiatric medicine at the University of Galway, said the trend could risk lasting damage.
He told PA: “I find the viral #droppingthingsonmyfeet TikTok trend troubling and strongly encourage readers not to engage in this risky challenge.
“This trend, encouraging participants to drop sharp and increasingly heavy household objects on their feet, is highly likely to result in foot injuries.
“TikTok is particularly popular among young people, who may be setting themselves up for a lifetime of pain and disability, if they significantly damage the nerves, bones and joints of their feet.”
Philling said the trend is popular because people enjoy watching others in pain but urged caution with heavier objects.
However he said a video of him dropping a drill on his foot was taken down after it breached TikTok community guidelines.
Philling told PA: “I think it’s funny when you’re going to drop something that’s moderately going to hurt, but if it’s genuinely going to injure you and take up the NHS’s time, then that’s when it gets a bit too much.”
In another video, Philling reacts to media coverage depicting his videos as dangerous. Under this video, a user commented: “Any publicity is good publicity.”
Reece Brierley from Manchester, who wants to monetise some of his content, said he posted several videos on this trend because it brought more people to his page.
He told PA: “If you follow a person, you follow them for them and their personality.
“If you’re just being you when things land on your feet and your reactions are quite funny, and people already like it, people will just watch the trend for you and your reaction.”
Admitting the trend is “pretty stupid”, he thinks people will do it more if they can monetise the content.
To keep children safe online, parents are advised to supervise their child’s TokTok use and familiarise themselves with the app’s built-in safety measures, such as TikTok Family Pairing.
