I love TikTok. It’s a platform I post on regularly. I find it entertaining and I learn things too. Coming up with topics isn’t always easy, but I’ve managed to make it look easy. Unlike some content creators, I steer clear of stunts. In Canada, TikTokers can’t monetise their accounts, so for creators in our lovely country, it’s a true labour of love. Without the pressure to generate views, the platform feels lighter and more genuine. That said, content creators in the U.S. sometimes take things way too far in their quest for internet fame. Here are a few instances where things didn’t go according to plan.
Target Trouble
A TikTok momfluencer with more than 360,000 followers is facing charges after allegedly stealing $500 worth of goods from Target. According to police, she scanned fake barcodes at self-checkout to avoid paying full price for items, including clothing and household goods. The influencer’s downfall came when she decided to post her “shopping haul” on TikTok, wearing the same outfit seen in security footage from the store.
Target’s loss prevention team flagged the theft, and the police shared stills from the security video online. An anonymous tip directed them to her TikTok account, which contained a video featuring the stolen goods and her incriminating outfit. While she’s now out on bond, it’s safe to say that broadcasting the evidence of a crime is not a sound strategy.
Reenacting Terror
Two University of Connecticut students sparked panic in a dining hall when they reenacted a viral TikTok trend involving staged violence. Pretending to hold a gun, one student shouted commands at others while the second filmed the scene. The performance led to police being called, and both students now face criminal charges, as well as potential disciplinary action from the university.
Witnesses described the dining hall freezing in fear, with students unsure if the threat was real. The fact that this occurred in Connecticut, a state with a tragic history of school shootings, added to the gravity of the situation. The students were arrested for breach of peace and threatening, and their attempt at recreating a trend may have long-term consequences beyond the app.
Bomb Threat for Clout
A self-proclaimed TikTok “troll” made headlines after threatening to bomb Charleston International Airport for content. Wearing hidden-camera glasses, the TikToker approached police and claimed he had a bomb, a gun, and fentanyl in his car. While he later admitted it was all a joke, the prank resulted in his arrest for the threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction.
The creator, known for pranking police, had pushed the limits before, but this time it landed him in jail with a $100,000 bond. Despite his insistence that it was all for laughs, authorities took the threat seriously. His account continues to post videos, though it remains unclear if this experience will curtail his antics.
Of course, internet fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes I feel like I can’t go to a grocery store without someone looking at me trying to place my face or confirm it’s that lawyer from TikTok. But for the folks in our three stories this week, it seems their lust for fame itself is what motivated them to commit some really stupid crimes.
