A TikTok stunt tragedy in Pennsylvania has left one teenager dead and another with permanent injuries, sparking new criticism of reckless social media trends that encourage young people to risk their lives for online clout.
Prosecutors say two teens are facing charges for driving their friends in separate, dangerous stunts mimicking viral challenges. In one case, 17-year-old David Nagy was killed June 1 when he rode on top of a folding table tied to the back of a friend’s car. The reckless driver, prosecutors said, “whipped the rider sitting on the table into another parked vehicle, resulting in [his] death.”
In another case, a 19-year-old woman drove with her 20-year-old friend “surfing” on the trunk of her car. The friend fell off, suffering “catastrophic head injuries that will be permanent in nature,” according to District Attorney Stephen Baratta.
Baratta noted that neither teen intended harm, but their actions were “so grossly negligent and reckless” that charges were warranted. He added, “The families did have a closeness and a trust with these close friends — I mean they knew them very well. That’s what’s so heartbreaking in this case.”
While TikTok insists it removes 99.8% of such videos proactively, the reality is that these challenges spread faster than Big Tech can stop them. Families of the victims hope accountability will deter other teens from following dangerous trends. As Baratta said, “These families are seeking accountability and hope that these charges will result in deterrence for other youth who may find themselves attracted to the thrill of mimicking dangerous social media challenges.”
