Just when you thought internet challenges couldn’t get more bizarre — people are recording themselves testing out shock collars. In case you missed it, teens have eaten nutmeg to induce hallucinations, shoved pennies into electrical outlets, and smacked people with bags in other challenges. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that people are now using shock collars meant for dogs to get their few seconds of fame.
Shock collars are typically used as training devices for dogs. When a dog barks or “misbehaves” they are given a small electric shock through the collar.
The laughs that result from these videos aren’t surprising, but the discussion they’ve sparked across social media has. The experience of wearing a shock collar is causing participants to now consider just how ethical these devices are when not used in a harmless TikTok video.
What Is the Shock Collar Challenge?
@thebabcockfamily ##shockcollarchallenge she wanted to know what it felt like 😂😂 ##foryoupage ##fyp
♬ original sound – thebabcockfamily
In the challenge, people wear the collar and set it off with a remote or by barking. They get surprised as the electric shock hits them. In some cases, participants are holding the shock device in their hands as it delivers the charge.
One TikTok user recorded their mother wearing the collar and barking in an attempt to set it off. The caption explains that the mom is testing out the shock collar before putting it on their dogs.
The mom laughs as her barks fail to set the collar off, then it suddenly delivers a shock. When it does, the video goes into slow motion as she jumps and rushes to take the collar off:
@kristinatumsuden my mom testing her dog’s shock collar before putting it on the dog! You won’t regret watching this! ##shockcollar ##shockcollarchallenge ##slowmo
♬ original sound – kristinatumsuden
While many were laughing in the comments, others were asking them not to put the collars on the dog, especially after considering the mom’s reaction to a single shock.
One commenter stated, “And that’s why you shouldn’t put them on dogs…”
For the most part, however, TikTok users are trying to keep the challenge lighthearted and just as another prank trend on social media.
@klok_work “It doesn’t work on humans” ##shockcollar ##shockcollarchallenge ##dogsoftiktok ##fyp
♬ original sound – klok_work