A surge in car thefts involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles across the United States has been connected to viral videos circulating on social media platforms like TikTok that provide tutorials on how to exploit security vulnerabilities in these car models, Claudia Lauer and Haleluya Hadero report for the Associated Press. This social media-driven trend, known as the “Kia Challenge,” has continued despite efforts by automakers and platforms to remove this type of content. The rise in stolen cars has led to crashes, injuries, and even deaths, prompting calls for accountability and a mandatory recall by attorneys general from 17 states.
While experts acknowledge the influence of social media on criminal activities, they say that it has just accelerated the spread of trends that have historically existed. The process of content moderation and identification of dangerous act poses a significant challenge for platforms like TikTok.