TikTok says videos of milk crate challenge will be removed because content ‘glorifies dangerous acts’

‘We encourage everyone to exercise caution in their behaviour whether online or off,’ TikTok says

TikTok condemns dangerous milk crate challenge trend (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

TikTok has issued a statement condemning the milk crate challenge and warning users that it will remove videos of individuals attempting the dangerous trend in accordance with its guidelines.

The milk crate challenge is the latest craze to make its way around social media, with the viral stunt involving people attempting to walk across various stacked milk crates.

Many of the videos end in failure, however, as people dangerously tumble to the ground, often bringing the milk crates with them.

The challenge has been especially popular on TikTok, where numerous users have reportedly tried the challenge, and where the hashtag #milkcratechallenge had accumulated more than 9m views as of Tuesday, according to Fast Company.

However, in a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for the platform said that it prohibits content that “promotes or glorifies dangerous acts” and that it is removing videos that violate these terms.

“TikTok prohibits content that promotes or glorifies dangerous acts, and we remove videos and redirect searches to our Community Guidelines to discourage such content. We encourage everyone to exercise caution in their behaviour whether online or off,” the statement read.

As of Wednesday, the app had removed the hashtag #milkcratechallenge from the platform, with a search coming up with the statement: “This phrase may be associated with behaviour or content that violates our guidelines.

“Promoting a safe and positive experience is TikTok’s top priority.”

While the hashtag has been removed, searches for similar hashtags still come up with results and videos of the trend, with the hashtag #milkcrate accumulating more than 7.7m views. Additionally, #milkcratechallengefail has more than 56,000 views on the app as of Wednesday.

However, as of now, most of the videos are of users reacting to other videos of people attempting the challenge.

The platform’s move to crack down on the potentially dangerous social media trend comes after the FDA weighed in on the challenge on Monday in response to Conan O’Brien, who tweeted: “Waiting for FDA approval before I take the Milk Crate Challenge.”

The tweet prompted a response from the agency’s Twitter account, which wrote: “Although we regulate milk, we can’t recommend you try that. Perhaps enjoy a nice glass of 2 per cent and return all those crates to the grocery store?”