‘How deep can you go?’ Florida cops warn about hazardous TikTok challenge on the beach
Hey, TikTokers: If you are pining to make a video showing you digging holes on the beach in Florida and be part of the cool-kids pack, just don’t, police say.
Huge, gaping holes have been spotted around Sanibel and Marco Island thanks to a trending social media challenge, “How deep can you dig?”
If you're digging to make a sandcastle or, in the case of this image a place to toss your shovel in! Please refill the hole and kindly take your things with you. It's a hazard to other beachgoers, especially our beautiful sea turtles. #bettertogether #marcoisland pic.twitter.com/9dSw2mpyaE
— Marco Island Police Department (@MarcoIslandPD) June 23, 2022
While the act of leaving large craters in the sand is not illegal, it poses a danger for people and wildlife who can fall in and get injured or trapped.
@holeman217653 Digging this hole to see how deep I can get it #hole#dig #fypシ #beach #florida #sunny ♬ M to the B - Millie B
Last Thursday, the Marco Island Police Department tweeted a picture of a gaping pit with a shovel at the bottom.
DANGEROUS NEW TREND: There’s a new TikTok challenge that’s leaving SWFL beaches littered with GIANT holes.
Tonight at 11 on @NBC2, I’m digging to learn why it’s dangerous to you and me, plus wildlife. pic.twitter.com/rjRiKdB0Tb— Gage Goulding - NBC2 (@GageGoulding) June 28, 2022
“We like to leave our beaches better than we found them,” the post said. “Please refill the hole and kindly take your things with you. It’s a hazard to other beachgoers, especially our beautiful sea turtles.”
This “viral” trend has been apparently going on for some time. A scan for the challenge shows it dating back to at least the summer of 2020.
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