Another day, another TikTok trend.
While most are fun — like this pickle popsicle and these food hacks — some are better left not trying.
A new trend that involves TikTokers reminiscing about how they were bullies in middle school and high school is one of them. Since that's not something to be proud of, people are boycotting the harmful trend.
It can lead to long-term psychological consequences, such as depression, low self-esteem, withdrawal from friends and family, and even suicide. Sadly, bullying can happen anywhere, such as at school, the workplace, and now the internet with social media.
Research has found that pure victims of bullying were four times more likely to develop some sort of anxiety disorder compared to kids who weren't bullied. They are also more likely to suffer from substance abuse.
Even famous celebrities who have millions of fans all around the world have been bullied before. Shawn Mendes, for example, is one of them. The singer grew up in Pickering, Ontario.
"When I was in the 9th grade, I posted one of my first videos on YouTube," he shared on Instagram.
Thankfully, he didn't listen to those bullies and continued to make music, which eventually led to stardom.
While “SLAUGHTER HOUSE” by Phonkha & Cecki plays, TikTokers reminisce about how they were bullies in middle school and high school by showing an image of their younger selves.
“I may look like a bitch now but…” she wrote in a text overlay while showing her face. Then, the video cut to an image of herself during her freshman year of high school. “She was pure evil."
When one person wrote, "begging to hear some examples," another replied, "we don't need examples signed, the unpopular kids," one wrote. "It shows that the bullies do not know regrets," another added.
Other TikTokers, like @taynfranzen44 and @thatmfffffffff, also shared videos of how they were "mean" in school. But the heavy criticism caused these users to take down their videos.
“Why are y’all proud of creating that kind of lasting damage on people? I would feel eternally ashamed.”
Another user, @itshelenmelon, showed an image of herself in high school from when she was the one being bullied. “I remember,” she wrote in a text overlay.
