‘Creeping while ya sleeping’ hashtag to be disabled on TikTok

TikTok has agreed to wipe a dangerous hashtag linked to children taking stolen cars for joy rides as police investigate whether the trend is linked to the death of a 12-year-old.

TikTok has finally bowed to pressure and effectively disabled the dangerous hashtag linked to joy rides where children as young as 10 are taunting police in stolen cars.

As police investigate whether the dangerous trend was linked to the death of a 12-year-old boy, a TikTok spokesman confirmed it would be “proactively” removing posts relating to the “creeping while ya sleeping” hashtag before users can see the videos.

In last week’s Saturday Telegraph, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb warned the trend had been spreading like wildfire, with officers in regional and suburban commands across the state being taunted by children hoping to coax them into pursuits, all for the purpose of online notoriety.

She exclusively told The Saturday Telegraph her team was working overtime to come up with strategies to stop the behaviour.

“These are babies behind the wheel. The risks to the community and themselves is extreme. A vehicle in the hands of someone unskilled is taking a lot of risks, the vehicle at that point becomes a weapon,” she said.

TikTok will disable the ‘creeping while ya sleeping’ hashtag.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: Supplied

Just days later the 12-year-old suffered shocking head and internal injuries and died after he was pulled from a mangled black Holden Barina that slammed into a power pole at Towradgi, near Wollongong, on Tuesday morning.

Police confirmed they were looking at whether it was linked to the “creeping while ya sleeping” hashtag.

Officers investigating the fatal accident located a silver Ford Focus on Thursday morning in the nearby suburb of Bellambi.

Witnesses had reported seeing people get into a silver car and leave the scene soon after the “almighty bang” at 1.30am on Tuesday that woke residents and alerted police at nearby Corrimal Police station.

Several officers ran to the scene but found the vehicle was empty.

Police are still trying to locate the driver of the Barina.

The 12-year-old suffered shocking head and internal injuries and later died.

He was a passenger in a car when it slammed into a power pole at Towradgi.

They believe the boy was a passenger in the car when it crashed and was pulled from the wreckage by other occupants, before he was dropped to a friend’s place in nearby Balgownie and the people with him fled.

When paramedics arrived at the house at 3am, the 12-year-old was suffering from catastrophic internal injuries.

He was rushed to Wollongong Hospital but staff couldn’t save him. Experts say viral challenges like this trapped young people who felt disconnected and disenfranchised and who wanted to belong to a community.

The 12-year-old’s family have been vocal about the incident on social media, with one relative blaming police for the boy’s death, claiming that they were chasing the hatchback. However, police have confirmed they were not involved in any pursuit ahead of the deadly crash.

“Wollongong cops … killed my cousin,” they wrote.

“Whoever was in that car last night should have known better … he’s gone now thanks to whoever was driving.”

In a series of videos and photos posted on Instagram and TikTok, the boy and other young people were often seen at train stations or in cars at night – on some occasions pictured with drugs and alcohol.

On his own Instagram account, the boy posted pictures of himself with dozens of bottles of liquor, while also filming himself and other young people late at night.

The boy seen in social media posts

The boy as seen in social media posts.

The boy as seen in social media posts.

Photos of the 12-year-old standing in a cubicle behind strips of caution tape have also appeared online, while several others of him posing in head-to-toe Nike outfits with his middle fingers up have also surfaced in tributes.

Some of the images are confronting but we chose to publish to alert parents to the severity of the problem.

Last week before this crash, Commissioner Webb said the more society was aware, the better we can keep children safe.

“I’m shocked by what I have seen and heard, children this young driving cars, stealing cars, and I’m sure other people will be too.”

A TikTok spokeswoman said that, in the last quarter in Australia, the company had “proactively” removed more than 666,852 videos.

“Nearly 90 per cent of them had not had a single view before being removed,” the spokeswoman said.

Popular Chinese-owned video sharing app TikTok. Picture: Martin Bureau

“We are aware of this type of content and although instances remain relatively low, we continue to monitor the situation and work with law enforcement to assist and provide support where appropriate.

“Safety is our priority, and videos that are deemed in breach of our community guidelines are removed.”

TikTok has also blocked #BlackOutChallenge – a challenge encouraging users to hold their breath until they pass out after reports children had died and were hospitalised as a result.

The eSafety Commissioner said TikTok and other social media companies must do more to prevent dangerous challenges going viral.

Australia's e-safety commissioner Julie Inman Grant. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

“These challenges can come in many different forms and, as in this case, may even involve the commission of crimes,” Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said.

“Some of the more dangerous challenges can often result in serious injuries and, tragically, even deaths.”

The commissioner urged platforms to “build in” safety protections at the front end to prevent online harms rather than responding after the damage has been done.

“This is not the first dangerous online challenge and unfortunately it won’t be the last, so parents and educators need to be aware they can play a role in minimising the potential impacts.” she said.

“It’s a difficult because warning kids about a new risky challenge can tempt them to try it.”