TikTok Is Not the Culprit — Schools Are Where the Real Issues Lie

In the U.S., there’s a disturbing trend among students: stealing soap dispensers and vandalizing school property has become all too common. To clarify, this behavior includes breaking mirrors, clogging toilets, and damaging sinks and urinals. Another part of this phenomenon involves spraying red dye in bathrooms to mimic blood, leaving behind unsightly stains.

School officials, educators, law enforcement, and parents are quick to attribute this trend to TikTok and the hashtag #DeviousLicks, where “lick” is a slang term for theft.

American K-12 schools are struggling to address this alarming trend, leading to measures such as locking bathrooms, confiscating phones, increasing hallway supervision, and restricting students’ movements to limit water breaks. School counselors and security staff are being pulled from their regular duties, and it would be interesting to hear the custodians’ perspectives on these events.

So, where are we headed?

Let me explain: this situation is largely our own doing, and we shouldn’t be surprised by it.

I am not condoning the destructive actions of these students. Their choices are immature and foolish. However, as authority figures—parents, school staff, and government officials—our immediate reactions often stem from hurt and frustration. We question how students can act so disrespectfully and recklessly, or we dismiss it by saying, “Kids will be kids.”

But we must ask ourselves why this behavior is occurring. All behavior is a form of communication. Vandalism, while abnormal, signals deeper issues. While impulsivity can sometimes be expected at a young age, senseless destruction cannot be overlooked. If we ignore the underlying reasons for this behavior, we are behaving irresponsibly and foolishly as adults.

Beyond our disappointment, we need to recognize that #DeviousLicks is a form of protest—albeit a poorly executed one. It’s not difficult to connect the dots between the challenges students have faced over the past 18 months and their feelings of disconnection from their school communities. However, the problems within our education system existed long before the pandemic. This student behavior is a clear indication of the toxic school culture prevalent in America, and we cannot solely blame TikTok for it.

Every year, communities across the U.S. acknowledge the need for increased mental health support in schools. Yet, year after year, we fail to deliver adequate resources, cut funding, or assume that overworked educators can fill the gaps, despite their lack of training for such a demanding role.

The rates of anxiety and depression among youth are staggering. According to the National Institutes of Health, one in three adolescents will face anxiety disorders. Between 2007 and 2012, anxiety disorders in children and teens rose by 20%. Over the last decade, hospitalizations for suicidal teenagers have doubled.

Numerous factors contribute to this crisis: increased screen time, social media, rampant political and social divides, and more.

Students practice lockdown drills monthly, sitting in silence behind locked doors, lights off, preparing for potential active shooter situations. For many high school seniors, these drills have been a routine since kindergarten. Educators have even attended workshops on how to deal with severe injuries.

This was all happening before the pandemic. Our schools, already underfunded and facing staff shortages, were forced to close for weeks or even months, with many still adjusting to virtual learning. The very system designed to nurture our future was barely holding on before the pandemic hit.

Now, we are surprised that students lack pride and ownership in their school communities?

Why should they feel protective of their shared environment?

To be blunt: Why should they care?

Students are not okay. Educators are not okay. They have been expressing their need for help for quite some time, yet we’ve only offered temporary solutions and empty thoughts. While I don’t condone vandalism, I recognize it for what it is: a cry for help and frustration aimed at a system that has failed them.

Of course students are stealing soap dispensers. Instead of being shocked, we should be asking why—otherwise, we should brace ourselves for even worse outcomes as we continue to neglect our youth.

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Summary:

The current trend of vandalism among students, often attributed to TikTok, is actually a reflection of deeper issues within the school system. The lack of mental health support, combined with the challenges students have faced over the past 18 months, has led to feelings of disconnection and frustration. Instead of merely condemning their actions, we should seek to understand the underlying reasons for this behavior and address the toxic culture in our schools.