UK teens use TikTok hacks to create fake COVID-19 positive test reports to bunk school

In a bizarre viral trend going on TikTok, UK teenrs are picking up hacks and tips to produce fake COVID-19 positive tests as an excuse to bunk school. re is an ongoing rain of Clips of young people applying various liquids to lateral flow tests that have racked up millions of views on popular video app. 

Videos are being uploed under hashtags which are offering ridiculous suggestions. Among several viral hashtags, re are - #fakecovidtest, which has gared more than 6.5 million views. Also, ar dedicated account @.fakecovidtests has been gaining more than 20,000 followers since its inception. 

While talking to media, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of Association of School and College Leers has warned that trend is “massively unhelpful” and has urged parents to ensure that tests are t being misused. “We are sure this involves a very small mirity of pupils, and that for most part tests are used correctly,” Barton told iNews UK.

While speaking on issue, a TikTok spokesperson told publication that platform removes misinformation related to COVID-19. He also ded that social media platform has joined hands with vigilant specialists, who are tracking and removing any misinformation, especially on Covid-19. 

“Our community guidelines make clear that we remove content which includes misleing information that causes harm, including medical misinformation related to Covid-19, and anti-vaccine disinformation more broly. Since start of pandemic, we have worked to provide our community with access to trusted information, and through our partnership with Team Halo, scientists from all over world have shared how vaccinations are created and tested for safety.”

Viral Trend

In order to encour kids from staying away from school, viral TikTok handles are suggesting products like apple sauce, Coca-Cola, vinegar, hand sanitiser, and kiwi fruit apply to tests in hope of testing positive for COVID-19. 

Teenrs have also gone as far as using Calpol cough medicine, lemon juice, orange juice, Lynx deodorant, and Dior aftershave on rapid antigen tests. As per an Independent fact-checking organisation Full Fact, fizzy drinks and fizzy drinks and acidic fruits can appear to break test into displaying what looks like a positive result.

While speaking to Full Fact, Associate professor in Biomedical Techlogy at University of Reing Dr. Alexander Edwards has clarified that if lateral flow device (LFD) is used for purposes or than it is allotted for, n one should expect a “silly result.”