Fury At Parents Over Terrifying TikTok Trend: "You Don't Deserve Kids"

A TikTok trend that has parents intentionally frightening their children has been labelled as ‘child abuse’.

Parents set up their phones to record their children’s reaction to an image and sound of a ghost – but the kicker is, they flee the room and close the door first, leaving their terrified children screaming in fear.

@naomineo Apologised with tears already ???? #ghostprank #fyp ♬ suara kuntilanak – solehudin1294

TikToker Zoe Renee has taken aim at parents who are uploading the videos.

“To all the parents who think this is ok, or even entertaining: You’re a piece of s**t,” she says in a reaction video. “You don’t deserve kids. If your kids don’t sleep for the next year, that’s on you. You don’t deserve these beautiful babies.”

Zoe also comments that the trend is ‘child abuse’. You can watch her full video below, but just a warning that it contains some colourful language!

@the_cobb_blog This “trend” its child abuse plain and simple. But if everyone else is doing it… it must be ok?? NO ITS NOT. #greenscreenvideo #childabusawarness #notcool #shithumans #blueghost #parentsoftiktok #parentsbelike #discraceful #aussiemum #rant #ranttime #poorchildren #savethekidz ♬ suara kuntilanak – solehudin1294

Her video attracted more than 12,000 comments, most supporting her view.

“It’s not even the fact they will be traumatised by it, but also the loss of trust in the people they love the most!” commented Matthew Watson.

@autumnn.cook Jj whooped that ghost ???????????? #scaringkidschallenge #kids #scare #scareprank #fyp #son #daughter ♬ suara kuntilanak – solehudin1294

But there are others who say it’s nothing but harmless fun.

“Relaxxxx. As soon as the kid watches the video, they laugh at it and then it turns into a funny memory. Just like how we remember watching scary movie,” commented Branden.

Fellow TikTok creator Aunt Karen, who has more than 1.5 million followers, also hit out at the disturbing trend. “Creating an environment where they can’t escape! How is that funny?” she says.

@auntkaren0 #parents #tdwhbwwh ♬ gford._ gets no maidens – $avøry-$adisticpai

What do you think of this viral trend? Let us know in the comments below.

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39 Comments

- - Zmijka86 said
  - 07 Dec 2022
    8:26 pm
That is so so bad

- - mom461384 said
  - 13 Oct 2022
    2:06 pm
Poor kids. That would be terrifying!

- - meedee said
  - 29 Sep 2022
    2:14 pm
As a parent our children are supposed to think of us as their safe place, their protector. Sadly these videos show the immaturity of some people and that they are not mature anouth to have children. That has nothing to do with how old you are in years. You can be 16 and make an awesome parent against the 32 year old person that does something like in these videos and should not have kids.

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 25 Aug 2022
    11:56 pm
These would scare me, the poor kids being exposed to these.

- - Jessica said
  - 22 Aug 2022
    7:14 pm
The is definitely not okay! Treat your kids with love and respect – don’t terrorise them

- - tessie said
  - 22 Aug 2022
    1:45 pm
Way to turn your kids into being emotionally traumatised. Would be a bit different if the parents stayed in the room with them but still wrong. What if your child has an underlying heart condition? I’d never do this to a child or an adult

- - mom485263 said
  - 22 Aug 2022
    10:28 am
Not something I’d do to my kids when they were younger nor post online. I don’t see the point in it.

- - Ellen said
  - 22 Aug 2022
    4:09 am
Nothing is funny about terrifying your child

- - mom101628 said
  - 20 Aug 2022
    11:49 pm
No child should be teased like this. Bad potty training the child’s parents had by the look of it.

- - mom290359 said
  - 19 Aug 2022
    10:50 pm
The issue for me is that they not only leave the room during a traumatic experience for the child, but most appear to HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED on their terrified offspring. One even pushes them back in… really? What part of that is funny?
At least be their with the child to show them support and comfort.

- - mom468034 said
  - 19 Aug 2022
    3:46 pm
I really dont get why you would want to do this or find it funny. Real life can be scary enough without your own parents breaching your trust. Nope, not for me.

- - alyise_ said
  - 19 Aug 2022
    12:17 pm
this is so unkind to children, gosh i still remember how my own parents would do similar things with me to get scared as a young child – not a fan

- - mamafiona said
  - 19 Aug 2022
    2:38 am
Downright unkind thing to do to another human being, let alone your own child whom you’re supposed to love and protect with your life?! No loving parent would do such a thing. Don’t do an unkind thing and call it a joke. Not funny at all.

- - Mad Bean said
  - 19 Aug 2022
    12:18 am
I don’t think this trend is a very loving thing to do to your kids. And it’s not funny.

- - mom318672 said
  - 18 Aug 2022
    12:59 pm
I think every parent knows what their children can handle and what they can’t. My eldest loves to be scared, my middle child absolutely hates it with a passion. My youngest has to be in the right mood for a good scare. I know what I can do and how far I can go with each child. A friend of mine, lets her children watch The Undead at ages 5& 7 because she knows they can handle it and know what’s real and what isn’t. Being a parent isn’t about coddling them all the time, it’s also about knowing their personality and understanding what the children can handle.