The phrase TikTok challenge has been invoked often enough in the past few years that the mere mention strikes fear into the heart of the average aging Gen X or Baby Boomer. The Kia Challenge was a hoax claiming that kids are hotwiring Kias everywhere, while the Nyquil Chicken trend shocked everyone lacking basic internet literacy.

In 2024, another TikTok trend is being blamed for mischievous kids wreaking havoc, with Texas police warning teens against participating in a TikTok Door Knock Challenge that they say involves kids banging on the doors of strangers in the middle of the night, oftentimes until the door nearly comes off its hinges.

Here's everything you need to know about the origins of the trend and its latest iteration.

What Is The TikTok Door Knock Challenge?

The TikTok Door Knock Challenge may have originated in 2021, back when it was called the "Door Kick Challenge." The trend involved playing the opening riff of pop star Ke$ha's song "Die Young," where she sings "I hear your heart beat to the beat of the drum," followed by the pounding of a kick drum.

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7018398178873560325

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7019008621732302086

Back in October 2021, kids typically recorded themselves "pranking" their friends in college dorm rooms or at school, playing the song from a portable speaker and kicking their friends' doors before racing away.

When Did The Door Knock Challenge Spark Criticism?

The UK saw a spike in police responding to calls about the prank in October 2021, with some homeowners claiming that their doors were damaged as a result of miscreants kicking at them. Years later in March 2023, residents of a quiet Vancouver Island suburb saw a rise in miscreants kicking at their doors at odd hours, leading to one disgruntled homeowner actually setting up a trip wire to catch his harasser.

More recently, Texas's Friendswood Police Department posted a series of videos showing masked miscreants approaching a stranger's door in the dead of the night and kicking and banging at their door with a gallon tub. The police warned against such pranks, saying that they are "aware of the viral TikTok Door Knock challenge which encourages individuals to bang or kick doors in the middle of the night in an effort to startle residents."

---

For the full history of the Door Knock Challenge, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.