#DeviousLicks

#DeviousLicks was a destructive TikTok trend that emerged in September 2021, encouraging students to vandalize school property and steal items from bathrooms and classrooms, then post videos of their “licks” (slang for theft) online. The trend caused widespread school disruption and property damage before being banned by TikTok and countered by positive student responses.

The Trend

Starting in early September 2021, students began posting videos showing stolen or vandalized school property—soap dispensers, bathroom mirrors, toilet paper holders, fire alarms, classroom projectors, and even entire toilets. Videos were captioned with “devious lick” and showed the stolen items, often with students bragging about their theft.

The trend spread rapidly across middle schools and high schools in the United States, Canada, and other countries, causing thousands of dollars in property damage and forcing some schools to close bathrooms or increase security measures.

Consequences

The vandalism trend led to serious real-world consequences:

• Arrests and Charges: Multiple students faced criminal charges for theft and vandalism, with some facing felony charges for expensive damage
• School Closures: Some schools closed bathrooms entirely, creating hardship for students
• Financial Impact: Schools reported damage costs ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per incident
• Academic Consequences: Students faced suspensions, expulsions, and permanent disciplinary records

Platform Response

TikTok banned the #DeviousLicks hashtag on September 15, 2021, removing videos and redirecting searches to community guidelines. The company stated the trend violated policies against illegal activities and harmful behavior. The ban successfully reduced the trend’s spread, though copycat videos continued under variant names.

Angelic Yields Counter-Movement

In response to the destructive trend, students created #AngelicYields, encouraging positive acts like bringing supplies to repair school bathrooms, leaving flowers, kind notes, and cleaning supplies. The counter-trend gained traction as students and teachers promoted constructive school engagement over vandalism.

Cultural Significance

The Devious Licks trend highlighted the dark side of viral culture, where the pursuit of online attention and clout led to real-world criminal behavior and property destruction. It sparked discussions about:

• Platform responsibility for trends that encourage illegal activity
• Peer pressure and the influence of viral challenges on adolescent behavior
• School security and the balance between openness and safety
• Consequences of social media clout-chasing

Educational experts and law enforcement used the trend as a teaching moment about digital citizenship, the permanence of online actions, and the real-world consequences of viral challenges.