Vandalism impressed by TikTok problem forces closure of Okanagan park washrooms

Public washrooms in an Okanagan community park have been closed prematurely for the season due to vandalism similar to that seen in schools amid a social media trend known as the TikTok challenge “Sneaky Leaks”.

On Wednesday, the District of Lake Country announced that the washrooms in Swalwell Park will be closing earlier than planned for late October due to repeated vandalism.

District of Lake Country communications officer Karen Miller believes the vandalism is related to the social media challenge.

“We heard people have different philosophies about what that might be … but we’ve heard a lot about a trend of ‘devil licks’ on TikTok, and it’s become such a problem in every type of washroom across Canada.” she said Thursday to host Sarah Penton on Radio West.

In a TikTok challenge called “Sneaky Leaks,” students across North America film and upload videos depicting vandalism and theft on school grounds, often in washrooms. These screenshots convey a sense of destruction. (@ hayderr / @ trentzalitach03 / @ devious.sink / TikTok)

Schools across Canada and the United States have been plagued by the TikTok challenge, which encourages people to damage school property and post the aftermath on the video platform.

“We saw an increased amount of really disgusting vandalism” [in the park bathrooms]”, Said Müller.

“The hardware, the doors for the booths were ripped straight off the wall and smashed, the soap dispensers burned and then even more disgusting, feces spilled over the walls and washrooms – both in the men’s and women’s washrooms.”

The District of Lake Country had to spend about $ 2,000 to remove graffiti and repair other damage to the washrooms in Swalwell Park. (Lake Country District / Facebook)

Miller says the mischief lasted for a month, but the damage done last weekend was the worst.

The district had to pay about $ 2,000 to replace the broken hand dryers, soap dispensers, and partitions, and remove the graffiti from the cubicles and bricks.

Miller says the park’s washrooms were only open during the day and were frequently used by park visitors and heavily patrolled by security, so she wonders how the vandals sneaked into the facilities.

“The washrooms are checked frequently. The parks are monitored. But of course it can’t be around the clock, ”she said.

Miller says the park pool closings will be an inconvenience for seniors and mothers with young children.

“It affects a wide segment of the community.”

Last month, TikTok removed all videos, hashtags, and search results related to the devil licks challenge.

Miller urges young people to have a conversation with their friends who indicate they want to take the social media challenge.

“It doesn’t make you a rat to protect the community you live in.”

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