TikTok is the video-sharing app we all know and love, better known for its dance challenges and lip-sync trends, but we also know that sometimes the trends on the app are not funny and downright dangerous. Whether you have seen a lot of people talking about April 24th on social media or have no idea what the TikTok trend is about, we’re gonna break it all down for you.
So, find out everything you need to know about the April 24th TikTok trend, including what it is and how to take precautions to stay safe on the day.
What is the April 24th TikTok trend, and who started it?
A group of six men started the disturbing trend on TikTok by stating that April 24th was national rape day and that on that day rape becomes legal, which is not the case. Not only did the men state all this, but they also provided the video’s viewers with tips on how to commit sexual assault against women.
Although it has also been claimed that the trend allegedly came from a group chat of students at Exeter University, where the chat of over a 100 men had a plan to rape as many girls as possible before April 24th. Exeter University said that the claims were a hoax that is designed to spread fear on real concerns about sexual assault. The Devon and Cornwall Police told media outlets that they are “currently making enquiries regarding the credibility of the group.”
However, an Urban Dictionary definition from 2019 states April 24th to be national rape day and that it is legal to rape people, even though we all know that it is most definitely not legal, and in fact very illegal.
What has happened?
As of this week, the hashtag #april24 has had over 38 million views, and since the trend began people have been taking to the internet to share their views and in most cases outrage over the insensitive hoax. However, there are users on the platform still trying to make the day seem real.
If you search #april24 on TikTok, you are now more likely to see videos of people warning others and condemning the original videos about the day.
A TikTok Spokesperson has said: “Keeping our community safe is our priority, and we do not tolerate content that promotes or glorifies non-consensual sexual acts including rape and sexual assault.
“While we have not found evidence on our platform of any videos related to this subject, our safety team is remaining vigilant and we will remove content that violates our policies.”
But if you do see a video promoting April 24th on the platform, you should report it so that it can be taken down, a quick action that can stop the video and its harmful message from spreading to other users of the app.
Reporting a video on TikTok is really straightforward; you just need to tap the arrow on the bottom right of the video, and then one of the options that will come up is ‘Report’ with a flag icon.
How to stay safe
The hoax has left many people feeling nervous about the day and scared to go out, as even if it is just a joke, it is better to be safe than sorry. The supposed national day is being compared to the film, The Purge, as it is both made up and intended to scare people.
People are suggesting across social media that women carry tasers, pepper spray and even weapons to protect themselves. However, a better and safer option would be to stay at home if you can, as we are all supposed to be in a lockdown of sorts, and not to go out by yourself. From keeping your hands free to sharing your location, here are some more tips to stay safe at night!
