What is the kia challenge on tiktok explainer.

How The TikTok 'Kia Challenge,' Which Doesn't Exist, Became A Media Frenzy

Over the past week or so, you may have encountered some news stories about the so-called "Kia Challenge" that is taking over TikTok. The internet challenge supposedly involves dastardly teens breaking into other's Kia (or Hyundai) cars, removing the steering column and using a USB cord to turn the ignition, driving away while soaking up internet clout.

This would be scary and sad indeed, if it were, in fact, actually happening in the way many are presenting it in the news. However, it appears rumors of Zoomers posting videos of themselves driving their most Devious Licks yet are greatly exaggerated. In fact, when searching the hashtag #KiaChallenge on TikTok, you'll find videos like this:

@userkiran1311 #asura #asura #ravanasura #attitude #foryoupage #kiachallenge #tiktok_india ♬ original sound – πŸ’–πŸ’–Ntr ka.JaanπŸ’–πŸ’–


So, how did the "Kia Challenge" become a hot-button issue filling news segments and scandalizing suburban parents? There is actually a kernel of truth behind the idea of a "Kia Challenge," but, through what amounts to a game of media "Telephone," it was warped into what looks like a catchy piece of yellow journalism.

Here, we'll walk through how the "Kia Challenge" became the TikTok scandal du jour, even though there's little evidence of a "Kia Challenge" actually existing.

How Did The "Kia Challenge" Start?

The idea of a Kia Challenge started on July 21st in a Fox59 report about an Indiana woman who had her Kia car broken into.

"A woman living in Lapel, Indiana recently fell victim to a trend on TikTok called the 'Kia challenge,' said the report. The woman condemned TikTok for allowing this sort of content online, as well as those participating in it.

"This trend absolutely makes me feel disgusted," she said. "It’s really beyond me that people think it’s okay to post criminal acts, let alone participate in them after seeing them online."

After Fox59's report, the "Kia Challenge" hit the global aggregate circuit. Distractify, the Oriental Times, the Miami Herald, Newsweek and many others posted pieces warning readers about the dangerous "Kia Challenge" purportedly taking over the app.

In all of their stories, the narrative was largely the same β€” the trend was supposedly started by TikToker @robbierayyy, who demonstrated that if you remove the steering column from a Kia or Hyundai car you can turn the ignition and start the car using a USB cord. The TikTok has since been deleted but is the first video in the below "Kia Challenge" compilation uploaded to YouTube.


The stories then urged readers to report any videos showing teens stealing cars as part of the Kia Challenge to TikTok.

The True Story Behind The "Challenge"

To be clear, one can start a Kia or Hyundai car using the USB cord method in @robbierayyy's video. In fact, it's the precise method used by a group of teens known as the "Kia Boyz," a ragtag group of car thieves that have reportedly been plaguing the American Midwest for over a year. In June 2021, Milwaukee news station WISN aired a report about how car thieves had been stealing Kias and Hyundais for months using that method.


Furthermore, videos of these "Kia Boyz" driving recklessly had indeed been posted to TikTok over the following several months. On May 31st, YouTuber Tommy G posted a documentary in which he interviewed local Milwaukee residents and some alleged Kia Boyz about the thefts. Towards the end of the video, a "Kia Boy" demonstrated how the thefts are performed.


These factors led to increased local news coverage of the Kia Boyz, but there were still no whispers of a Kia Challenge taking over TikTok. It wasn't until Fox59 used the term in its July 21st article that "Kia Challenge" became a trending topic.

Why The "Kia Challenge" Doesn't Exist

It seems that media outlets were more eager to cover the car thefts of the Kia Boyz once there was a social media bogeyman involved, even if social media apparently had little to do with the rise of car thefts. Such scare tactics had previously worked with sensationalized tales of TikTok "challenges" like the Slap a Teacher Challenge and the Blackout Challenge.

As stated previously, it seems no videos under the hashtag #KiaChallenge bring up videos of people stealing Kias or Hyundais using the method described above (though it does show some people trying the method on their own cars for themselves).

While it's possible TikTok has been diligent about deleting the videos, a Monday TikTok from user @robbierayyy, the man who supposedly started the Kia Challenge, saw him watching a local news story about the Kia Challenge. He called the story fake news and said he had never heard the term.

With this information, it seems that while there have been increased thefts of Kias and Hyundais using a method that has been demonstrated and discussed on social media sites including TikTok, the "Kia Challenge" is not a real social media trend. At least, not yet. It's entirely possible that so many media organizations warning others about the Kia Challenge may conjure the Kia Challenge into existence.



For more information about the Kia Challenge, check out our entry here.




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