If you didn’t know what TikTok was a month ago, you probably know what it is by now. With all the time we have on our hands right now, social media challenges have spiked around the world. Ranging from cute and funny to downright bizarre, the most popular of these challenges are going viral on TikTok, a Chinese video-sharing app launched outside China in 2017.
TikTok challenges themed around the coronavirus possibly started when a video by Vietnamese dancer and choreographer Quang Dang went viral. The video has a ridiculously catchy tune by Vietnamese singers Min and Erik called “Ghen Co Vy” or “The Jealous Coronavirus. It shows an elaborate and fabulous dance routine about washing your hands, not touching your face and avoiding big crowds. Funny and heartwarming, the song became a smash hit, pulling in millions of likes and shares since its release in February 2020. People around the world took part in taking videos of themselves imitating Dang and the # GhenCoVyChallenge was born. So far, the dance challenge has garnered 26.2million views on TikTok and counting. The dance became so popular, John Oliver, host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight played a portion of it on the show.
Since then, other challenges started erupting around the world on TikTok as kids and adults alike, at home with nothing to do, participating in hilarious and wholesome dance, comedy, cooking and art videos. Even celebrities like Justin and Hailey Beiber and Courtney Cox joined in on the fun.
But then things took a turn for the weird. Tiktok and Instagram user Ava Louise filmed herself licking a toilet seat on a plane, calling the stunt the ‘coronavirus challenge’. Inexplicably, others followed with their own videos of licking toilet seats for pranks and inevitably, someone got sick. California influencer ‘Larz’ filmed himself licking a public toilet seat and then ended up in the hospital with a confirmed case of coronavirus. Whether the toilet had a hand in getting him sick, maybe we’ll get an update.
We know being stuck at home for a prolonged period of time can lead to some recklessness. But it’s also a time to remember that strangers are coming to each other’s rescue on social media and we’re all helping each other get through a massive crisis. So if you’re inching towards your phone to make a TikTok video, go for happy! Go for safe! Go for something cute and funny!
And please, don’t lick anything.
By Tanzia Haq
