Tacoma School District, fire department warn about new viral video challenge

TACOMA, Wash. — The Tacoma School District and Fire Department are warning parents about a "dangerous" new viral video "challenge" that was performed by students Friday.

It is called the TikTok Challenge, Penny Challenger or Outlet Challenge and is said to be dangerous, according to school and fire department officials.

According to a release from the school district, the challenge encourages students to record a video of themselves and place a partial plug phone charger into an outlet and slide a penny onto the prongs, which results in sparks and causes damage to an electrical system and sometimes starts a fire.

Tacoma Public Schools spokesperson Dan Voelpel said students at one of the district’s middle schools participated in the challenge Friday.

Tacoma Fire Department Lt. Marja Stowell said the challenge, which is sweeping the country is an “incredibly dangerous stunt” that could lead to injury or death from an electrical shock.

According to the release the challenge has caused several fires and damage to electrical systems across the nation.

“Most kids aren’t thinking about criminal charges or having to pay for the damage when they attempt these challenges,” Lt. Stowell said. “Most of them probably don’t think they could die from this either.”

Tacoma officials are encouraging parents to speak with their child about how dangerous challenges like this can be.

© 2020 Cox Media Group