If you exist kia

How The TikTok ‘Kia Challenge,’ Which Doesn’t Exist, Became A Media Frenzy

Over the past week or so, you may have encountered some news stories about the so-called «Kia Challenge» that is taking over TikTok. The internet challenge supposedly involves dastardly teens breaking into other’s Kia (or Hyundai) cars, removing the steering column and using a USB cord to turn the ignition, driving away while soaking up internet clout.

This would be scary and sad indeed, if it were, in fact, actually happening in the way many are presenting it in the news. However, it appears rumors of Zoomers posting videos of themselves driving their most Devious Licks yet are greatly exaggerated. In fact, when searching the hashtag #KiaChallenge on TikTok, you’ll find videos like this:

How Did The «Kia Challenge» Start?

The idea of a Kia Challenge started on July 21st in a Fox59 report about an Indiana woman who had her Kia car broken into. «A woman living in Lapel, Indiana recently fell victim to a trend on TikTok called the ‘Kia challenge,’ said the report. The woman condemned TikTok for allowing this sort of content online, as well as those participating in it. «This trend absolutely makes me feel disgusted,» she said. «It’s really beyond me that people think it’s okay to post criminal acts, let alone participate in them after seeing them online.» After Fox59’s report, the «Kia Challenge» hit the global aggregate circuit. Distractify, the Oriental Times, the Miami Herald, Newsweek and many others posted pieces warning readers about the dangerous «Kia Challenge» purportedly taking over the app. In all of their stories, the narrative was largely the same — the trend was supposedly started by TikToker @robbierayyy, who demonstrated that if you remove the steering column from a Kia or Hyundai car you can turn the ignition and start the car using a USB cord. The TikTok has since been deleted but is the first video in the below «Kia Challenge» compilation uploaded to YouTube.
The stories then urged readers to report any videos showing teens stealing cars as part of the Kia Challenge to TikTok.

The True Story Behind The «Challenge»

To be clear, one can start a Kia or Hyundai car using the USB cord method in @robbierayyy’s video. In fact, it’s the precise method used by a group of teens known as the «Kia Boyz,» a ragtag group of car thieves that have reportedly been plaguing the American Midwest for over a year. In June 2021, Milwaukee news station WISN aired a report about how car thieves had been stealing Kias and Hyundais for months using that method.
Furthermore, videos of these «Kia Boyz» driving recklessly had indeed been posted to TikTok over the following several months. On May 31st, YouTuber Tommy G posted a documentary in which he interviewed local Milwaukee residents and some alleged Kia Boyz about the thefts. Towards the end of the video, a «Kia Boy» demonstrated how the thefts are performed.
These factors led to increased local news coverage of the Kia Boyz, but there were still no whispers of a Kia Challenge taking over TikTok. It wasn’t until Fox59 used the term in its July 21st article that «Kia Challenge» became a trending topic.

Why The «Kia Challenge» Doesn’t Exist

It seems that media outlets were more eager to cover the car thefts of the Kia Boyz once there was a social media bogeyman involved, even if social media apparently had little to do with the rise of car thefts. Such scare tactics had previously worked with sensationalized tales of TikTok «challenges» like the Slap a Teacher Challenge and the Blackout Challenge. As stated previously, it seems no videos under the hashtag #KiaChallenge bring up videos of people stealing Kias or Hyundais using the method described above (though it does show some people trying the method on their own cars for themselves). While it’s possible TikTok has been diligent about deleting the videos, a Monday TikTok from user @robbierayyy, the man who supposedly started the Kia Challenge, saw him watching a local news story about the Kia Challenge. He called the story fake news and said he had never heard the term. With this information, it seems that while there have been increased thefts of Kias and Hyundais using a method that has been demonstrated and discussed on social media sites including TikTok, the «Kia Challenge» is not a real social media trend. At least, not yet. It’s entirely possible that so many media organizations warning others about the Kia Challenge may conjure the Kia Challenge into existence.
For more information about the Kia Challenge, check out our entry here.

Источник

If you exist kia

The Kia Electrified Event

First 2 services free and up to £1,500 PCP Finance Deposit Contribution
Terms apply, scroll to bottom to view

The Kia EV9 Electric Experience

Be one of the first to see the unveiling of the Kia EV9

The Kia EV9

About Shelly Motors (Epsom)

Whether you’re a private motorist or a company car driver, you’ll find new Kia offers and constantly changing stock of Kia Approved used cars.

As a Kia approved retailer, we also offer a full aftersales service including servicing, repair, warranty, parts and accessories. You can book your service or MOT here and find our latest Kia offers.

Whatever you expect or think you know about Kia, we go one step further. It proves our fixation with quality — it explains why so many people chose our cars and why we keep growing all over the world. Plus, with our state-of-the-art European factory, the future is brighter than ever for Kia..

New Car offers

£1,500 towards your PCP Finance Deposit Contribution on Sportage (Excluding PHEV models). Offer available on purchase of a new Kia Sportage in the United Kingdom between 03.07.2023 and 01.10.2023. Retail Sales only. Further charges may be made subject to the condition or mileage of the vehicle. Kia reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time without prior notice. Finance T&Cs apply. Subject to status. 18s or over. Guarantee may be required. Kia Finance RH2 9AQ. 7 year / 100,000 mile manufacturer’s warranty. For full terms and exclusions click here.

£500 towards your PCP Finance Deposit Contribution on EV6. Offer available on purchase of a new Kia EV6 in the United Kingdom between 03.07.2023 and 01.10.2023. Retail Sales only. Further charges may be made subject to the condition or mileage of the vehicle. Kia reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time without prior notice. Finance T&Cs apply. Subject to status. 18s or over. Guarantee may be required. Kia Finance RH2 9AQ. 7 year / 100,000 mile manufacturer’s warranty. For full terms and exclusions click here.

£500 towards your PCP Finance Deposit Contribution on Niro EV. Offer available on purchase of a new Kia Niro EV in the United Kingdom between 03.07.2023 and 01.10.2023. Retail Sales only. Further charges may be made subject to the condition or mileage of the vehicle. Kia reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time without prior notice. Finance T&Cs apply. Subject to status. 18s or over. Guarantee may be required. Kia Finance RH2 9AQ. 7 year / 100,000 mile manufacturer’s warranty. For full terms and exclusions click here.

£1,500 towards your PCP Finance Deposit Contribution on Soul EV. Offer available on purchase of a new Kia Soul EV in the United Kingdom between 03.07.2023 and 01.10.2023. Retail Sales only. Further charges may be made subject to the condition or mileage of the vehicle. Kia reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time without prior notice. Finance T&Cs apply. Subject to status. 18s or over. Guarantee may be required. Kia Finance RH2 9AQ. 7 year / 100,000 mile manufacturer’s warranty. For full terms and exclusions click here.

First 2 services free servicing offer available on Sportage, Niro EV, EV6 and Soul EV only between 03.07.2023 to 31.08.2023

Kia UK Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 731457 for credit broking and is a credit broker and not a lender. Kia UK Limited introduces customers to its appointed dealers who act as credit brokers in their own right and who may introduce customers to Hyundai Capital UK Limited, trading as Kia Finance, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 581186 as a lender. Our appointed dealers will typically receive a fixed fee from Kia Finance for this introduction. However, the amount of commission received by a dealer does not impact the amount paid by a customer under the credit agreement. Kia UK Ltd is registered in England & Wales No: 4415807. Registered Office: Walton Green, Walton-On-Thames, Surrey, KT12 1FJ.

Источник