Once again, the app TikTok is making headlines due to a dangerous trend; this time, it's the Kia challenge.
At the beginning of July, a content creator made a video that demonstrated how to start a Kia car by connecting a USB wire to the vehicle was viral on Tiktok. This video started the trend. The footage has been linked to a number of burglaries and thefts from motor vehicles at this point.
On July 16, Alissa Smart of Indiana was a victim of the challenge when her Kia Soul was destroyed after being rammed into by another participant. She was quoted by Fox 59 as saying: "This trend in clothing just repulses me to my core. After seeing unlawful actions online, it puzzles me that some people would consider it appropriate to promote such behaviors, much alone participate in them themselves."
The Kia challenge is what, exactly?
The Kia challenge asks participants to try to start a car using a USB connection by taking advantage of a defect in some Kia and Hyundai models that allows the ignition to be bypassed. This issue is only present in certain versions of these automobiles.
The video is then uploaded to the platform known as TikTok. Individuals have been filming themselves carrying out these activities.