WARNING: This Dangerous “Challenge” Can Get Your Idaho Kids Shot

With school starting sooner than later, our kiddos are going to be reunited with their friends and of course, make new ones. But, what do the kids catch up on after summer in 2024?

Most likely, they'll talk about where they went and what they spent their summer doing. For the kids old enough for their parents to allow them on social media, they might be discussing the next trendy "challenge" or the challenges they completed...

Social media challenge strikes SW Boise

Recently, we came across a video on the popular neighborhood app, NextDoor showing us a view from a resident's Ring camera in the middle of the night. In the video, we see two boys who look to be anywhere between nine and twelve years old.

The boys race up to the front door and start aggressively banging on the door for a few seconds. You can hear giggles from the boys through the loud banging before they dart off into the night.

We requested permission to use the video from the user on NextDoor and understandably so, we did not receive permission to share it or their identity. 

We felt it was important to share the danger of this prank. Sure, it looks like "ding dong ditching" to those who grew up doing that but in 2024? This is dangerous.

One of the comments on the video was from a nearby resident who said: "Those kids need to be careful or they'll get shot!"

And they're not wrong.

If someone and their small children are awoken by what sounds like someone trying to break into their home in the middle of the night, what do you expect them to do? Especially in Idaho?

Many people would say they're reaching for a firearm. While someone who's familiar with handling a firearm might not fire right away... those who are genuinely scared or not as familiar, might make a dreadful mistake.

Ding dong ditching might sound like harmless fun in the 1990s... but in 2024?

It's not worth the risk. Talk to your kids and keep an eye on what they're doing in the middle of the night!