What is the TikTok trend in the metro? Explaining the viral trend after teenage deaths

Thrill-seeking young kids and teens ride moving trains in a social media trend called “subway surfing,” an ode to the mobile game.

October 23, 2013 Adolfo Sanabria Sorzano died after he tried to take part in subway surfing in Queens, New York.

Just a few days later in the same area, on October 27, a 13-year-old girl named Christel Romero died after participating in a social media trend, and her friend was rushed to the hospital.

The trend has gone so far that one parent even tried it sue the platform after her son died while trying to viral surf the subway in 2023.

The dangerous trend of “subway surfing” is explained.

Subway surfing, sometimes called train surfing, is riding on top of or outside a moving train. This is extremely risky and can lead to falls, electric shocks or severed limbs.

The trend is a real-life simulation of the popular game Subway Surfers, where characters run on top of fast-moving trains to collect coins and other surprises.

In 2023, New York saw four deaths from suspected subway surfing, compared to five deaths between 2018 and 2022. Department of City Transport reported This resulted in over 10,000 subway surfing videos and photos being removed from social media.

The MTA reported that the number of reports of children riding the subway has quadrupled since 2021, from 206 to 928.

With the increase in people, NYPD Transit Bureau Chief Joseph Gulotta said the city is implementing drones to protect against the problem.

“We have a drone program that’s on the J line, on the 7 line, where (we) mostly see it,” Gulotta said. “We hit social networks hard. We share videos with parents. We show how it affects him.”

Following Christel Romero’s death, Mayor Eric Adams also commented on the “dangerous trend” and said the city is working diligently to end subway surfing.

“It’s heartbreaking to hear that surfing the subway and chasing social media influence has stolen another life,” Adams said. “We’re doing everything we can to raise awareness against this dangerous trend, but we need all New Yorkers — and our social media companies — to do their part, too. No position is worth your future.”

This is just the latest TikTok craze, which experts warn against, as dozens of trends are considered too dangerous