Teenager Shot and Killed by Homeowner After Ringing Doorbell and Running Away

Challenges for Social Media Views Lead to Tragedy
Fatal Incidents on the Rise as Pranks Go Viral

In Houston, USA, a teenage boy was shot and killed while playing a prank known as "bell-tui," which involves ringing someone else's doorbell and running away. According to Yonhap News on September 2, citing CNN and other sources, at around 11 p.m. on August 30, an 11-year-old boy was shot while playing this prank with friends in a residential area of Houston, Texas. He was taken to the hospital but died the following day. Police have arrested the homeowner who fired the gun and are investigating the details of the incident.

In Houston, USA, a teenage boy who was playing a prank known as "bell-tui" by ringing someone else's doorbell and running away was shot and killed. The photo is an AI-generated image to help understand the article content.

CNN reported that this incident appears to be related to content posted on social networking services (SNS) such as TikTok. On TikTok, which primarily features short videos, pranks like "ding dong ditch" are popular among teenagers. In the United States, where detached houses are common, teenagers are increasingly posting videos of themselves ringing doorbells and running away to boost their view counts.

Similar incidents have occurred before. In May of last year, an 18-year-old in Virginia was shot and killed by a homeowner while attempting to film a TikTok video of this prank. In California in 2023, a 45-year-old man ran over and killed three teenagers who were playing this prank. Texas law applies the "castle doctrine," which allows homeowners to use force against intruders if they enter without permission and are perceived as a threat.

Challenges Trending on Social Media Stem from Peer Pressure and the Desire for Group Belonging

As many teenagers are losing their lives creating content to increase views on social media platforms like TikTok, some analyses suggest that adolescents are experiencing psychological pressure behind filming such content. Dr. Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center at Fielding Graduate University in California, explained in an interview with the BBC in 2023 that challenges trending on platforms like TikTok originate from peer pressure and the desire to belong to a social group.

As many teenagers are losing their lives creating content to increase views on social media platforms like TikTok, an analysis suggests that adolescents are experiencing psychological pressure behind filming such content. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

Dr. Rutledge explained, "When children are presented with challenges that can earn them social capital, they see it as something cool and feel that they can be part of a larger group and connect with others." She added, "There are many children who cannot refuse to participate in such content because they do not want to be seen as cowards or as lacking in ability." Dr. Rutledge also noted that children are still figuring out their place in society and that "critical thinking is often not involved when they perform challenges and post videos."

Professor Makana Chock of Syracuse University offered a similar opinion. Professor Chock pointed out, "It is not new for children or adolescents to engage in risky behavior at the urging of their peers, but the unique characteristics of SNS, where there is significant physical distance between users, create new problems." She further explained, "In the case of SNS challenges, they can sometimes be carried out alone with the intention of sharing the recording later. This is different from situations where friends are present and can intervene or call for help if things become serious." Meanwhile, some families of those who died while participating in challenges or posting videos have filed lawsuits against TikTok, claiming that the platform's algorithm is partly responsible for their children's deaths. However, there have not yet been any cases in which TikTok or other SNS platforms have been held directly liable for such incidents.