A new trend circulating on TikTok called “The Pisser” is causing concern among safeguarding professionals.
Students record short clips of themselves appearing to urinate outside school buildings, often paired with the Dexter TV soundtrack.
At first glance, it might seem like another harmless viral challenge. In reality, it carries serious safeguarding and criminal implications.
Why This Trend Matters
What might appear funny or lighthearted can have lasting consequences.
When young people participate in these viral acts, they often don’t realise:
- How quickly videos spread beyond their intended audience.
- How easily schools become identifiable in the footage, revealing uniforms or building details.
- How actions taken “as a joke” can be classified as criminal behaviour under UK law.
What Students (and Adults) Need to Know
These actions are not just poor choices; they can amount to criminal offences:
- Urinating in public can lead to a £100 or higher fine in the UK.
- It is a criminal offence under the Public Order Act.
- In serious cases, such acts could result in a criminal record or even a sex offence charge.
- Posting these videos online can lead to school disciplinary action and police involvement.
- What starts as a trend can damage reputations and affect future education or employment.
What Schools and Parents Can Do
Trends like this can spread in hours, often before staff or parents are aware of them. Early awareness and clear communication are key.
For schools:
- Include updates on online trends in regular safeguarding briefings.
- Discuss them openly in assemblies or PSHE sessions to help students understand the impact.
- Emphasise that digital behaviour has real-world consequences.
For parents:
- Keep communication open by asking, “What’s trending in your school right now?”
- Talk about why seemingly harmless videos can still cause harm.
- Encourage empathy and responsibility online.
