The Worst TikTok Trends Of May 2022

TikTok trends often go way too far. So far, in fact, that they leave many of us disturbed and concerned for TikTok’s regular fanbase. For an app that appeals primarily to children and teens, there are some odd things appearing there from time to time, from terrible challenges (like shooting someone in the face with an unsoaked Orbeez pellet in a BB gun, which has seriously injured quite a few people lately) to life hacks that would only make your life infinitely worse.

Lately, some of these trends have been getting significant attention, so let’s take a look at the dumbest out of all of them, as well as why you should never do them, not even for some meaningless views.

Fractal Wood Burning

You know what’s a bad idea? Soaking a piece of wood in chemicals and then attaching a car battery to it, all for the sake of creating “art.” This trend has been around for a while, and there are some artists who are really great at it and create some cool burn designs in the wood using this method, but it should go without saying that these people are professionally trained and actually use safety equipment and the proper techniques.

Most TikTokers don’t do this whatsoever and fail to see how dangerous this can be. In a worst-case scenario, you can electrocute yourself and burn your house down, which is exactly what happened to a Wisconsin couple who attempted this on their own.

That’s the difference between this and most other TikTok trends: this time, people have actually died, which isn’t common ever since the Tide Pod challenge despite TikTokers tempting death with every new trend. It’s honestly a horrible way to go.

@bruceburnswoodshop Fractal wood burning a charcuterie board!! #fractals #fractalburn #asmr #asmrsounds #woodworking ♬ original sound – Trevor Bruce

Hanging Clothes in Your Cars

So, this is less of a trend or challenge than it is a viral life hack, but many TikTokers have discovered a hidden clothes hanger in their indoor car handles. While this is obviously only something that people should be using if they’re transporting very valuable clothing items or struggling to fit clothes in the car when moving, people have started taking advantage of this by just hanging their clothes and leaving them hanging all the time for no apparent reason other than to show off the fact that they’ve found the secret hanger.

It’s surprisingly common. If you don’t believe me, take a look around a nearby parking lot, and you’ll see dozens of people who are taking advantage of this just to show off their ahegao hoodies. The thing is, they’re covering their windows, even their passenger side windows, and obstructing their vision, making today’s teenagers drive even worse than they already do normally, and it’s become a public safety hazard at this point.

@jmac8781 #stitch with @sanne_vberkel 33 years wasted#carhack#cartrick#learningfromtiktok#lifehacks#thingsididntknow#todayyearsold#over30#over40#over50 ♬ original sound – Jess

The Blackout Challenge

This has technically been around a lot longer than this month, but it’s trending in the news lately because a bereaved mother has just filed a lawsuit against TikTok after her young daughter died from this challenge. It essentially involves holding your breath until you pass out.

While we’ve all tried to see how long we can hold our breaths, this is very, very different, hence why it’s called the “blackout challenge,” and it’s understandable why young children wouldn’t understand just how dangerous this could be. That’s why TikTok is being sued for supposedly allowing this content to persist since the 10-year-old who attempted this tragically died.

It’s worth noting that TikTok has blocked searches of the blackout challenge, but it hasn’t prevented what happened to 10-year-old Nylah Anderson, as well as dozens more children in previous years, especially during the time when this was known as the “choking challenge” years ago.

@drippydarion #greenscreen These kids could’ve had a great life but now their gone forever RIP to all of them😂🥺#benadryl #blackout #rip ♬ dont talk x who got you cryin like that – MASN

Amber Heard’s “Johnny, You Hit Me!” Testimony

While not a dangerous trend, this one’s just kind of grating. Not because we're taking what Amber Heard is saying seriously, but because there are so many lines from the Amber Heard vs Johnny Depp trial that are way more quotable, like the “mega pint of red wine.” But instead, TikTokers have been making videos using the lines of Heard’s testimony in which she claims Depp hit her.

People who hate this trend say TikTokers are mocking testimony about serious abuse, but if you’ve seen any of this trial, that’s not the conclusion you’d be making about Amber Heard’s testimony whatsoever. Heard is losing this trial badly so far, and most of the online community is united on Johnny Depp’s side.

Honestly, it’s kind of fitting that her unproven testimony would become a meme, especially with all of the evidence against her, but there’s something kind of surreal and meaningless about watching a child do a TikTok dance with Amber Heard sobbing about Depp “hitting” her in the background, and out of all the Heard vs Depp memes on TikTok, which are usually pretty entertaining, this one’s the worst simply because it’s so stupid rather than insightful or amusing in any way.

@iamlegend44 #johnnydepp #amberheard #smackdown #cats#funny ♬ original sound – lukedrakos1