Disturbing 'pee challenge' social media trend prompts warning from Barnegat Township Schools & police
According to a letter sent home to parents on Oct. 6, the “pee challenge” involves participants urinating or pretending to urinate on school property and then posting the videos online.
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Reports of a disturbing new social media challenge prompted one Ocean County school district to let out a warning: don't urinate on school property.
It seems some young people are giving into "pee pressure," and it's reached the Barnegat Township School District. According to a letter sent home to parents on Oct. 6, the “pee challenge” involves participants urinating or pretending to urinate on school property and then posting the videos online.
Karl Romain is an author and life coach, specializing in combating these potentially dangerous social media trends.
“Everybody wants to go viral and the more outrageous, unfortunately, is looked at as better,” said Romain.
“Everybody wants to feel part of their peer group and feel accepted. For some, unfortunately, that means giving in to peer pressure,” he said.
In that Oct. 6 letter to parents, Barnegat High School Principal Patrick Magee writes in part, “students who participate, attempt to participate, or simulate participation in this trend will face strict school consequences...[which] may include suspension, removal from school, and referral to law enforcement for possible prosecution.”
Barnegat Township police tell News 12 as of now they’re investigating just one incident which could even have been a prank or a hoax, but because of the sensitive subject matter involving children, everything is taken seriously.
According to police, videos posted and since removed on TikTok appeared to show a male urinating in parts of the high school bathroom and on a school sign. They say the act was likely simulated using a water bottle, but it was enough to prompt this response.
Romain says social media isn’t going anywhere, and parents need to encourage their kids to ditch the potentially life-altering challenges and focus on positivity.
“If they’re good at song writing or if they’re creative and have artwork. I’ve seen people pretty good at poetry and their accounts blow up, they get pretty viral,” he said.
Police want to remind both children and parents that posting videos of this nature could carry severe legal punishments.
