France: National Police warns about the « Zizi Challenge, » a disturbing TikTok trend ⚠️

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A new viral phenomenon is raising concerns among French authorities and child protection organizations. Known as the « Zizi Challenge, » this trend circulating on TikTok and YouTube encourages young children—sometimes as young as 9 or 10 years old—to share images of their private parts. This dangerous practice exposes minors to serious risks of exploitation and online blackmail.

An alarming trend on social media 🚨

For several months, the French Office for the Protection of Minors (OFMIN) has recorded hundreds of reports related to this challenge. While many children see it as a joke or a game among friends, the reality is far more troubling. These images spread quickly and can easily be retrieved by malicious individuals, including online predators.

“Once posted, these images never truly disappear. Malicious individuals can download them and use them to contact children, manipulate them, or demand further content,” warns a commissioner from OFMIN.

The dangers of the « Zizi Challenge » ⚠️

This phenomenon goes far beyond simple exposure on social media. It opens the door to several serious threats:

• Online child exploitation 🛑: Predators can identify children who took part in the challenge and try to initiate contact.
• Blackmail and sextortion 🔒: Cybercriminals may threaten to share the images unless the child provides money or even more compromising content.
• Legal consequences for parents ⚖️: Legal guardians could be held accountable if their children’s devices or accounts are used to post this kind of content.

A challenge that mobilizes French authorities🏛️

Given the scale of the phenomenon, OFMIN has been overwhelmed with reports, diverting essential resources from ongoing investigations into sexual abuse and cyberbullying.

Law enforcement is urging parents to stay extra vigilant and to follow some key preventive measures :

• Monitor children’s online activity and explain the risks of using social media.
• Educate younger users about the dangers of sharing intimate images, even privately.
• Use parental controls and restrict access to high-risk platforms.

A challenge with lasting consequences⏳

While some children may see this challenge as just a game, the consequences can be long-lasting and irreversible. Once shared online, images may remain accessible indefinitely, be misused, or fall into the hands of cybercriminals.

The « Zizi Challenge » highlights a worrying reality: social media can become dangerous spaces for minors, especially when they are left unsupervised. Parents and authorities must intensify efforts to protect children and prevent the normalization of such harmful practices.

What do you think ? 
Should platforms be doing more to prevent these types of challenges? 🤔