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TikTok in the headlines: What's making the news?

TikTok-related stories in the headlines this week

Viral "bank hack" is just plain fraud, warns JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Many TikTok users are potentially facing legal consequences after participating in the viral "Chase ATM hack," which is just another term for check fraud, according to JPMorgan, the parent company of Chase Bank. In this TikTok, a woman says her partner was arrested after the couple withdrew $47,500 from a Chase ATM using this "hack." 

In the last week, videos were posted by TikTok users, showing them depositing expensive checks at Chase ATMs and then withdrawing a smaller amount of money. Users thought this was a lucky "glitch" in the ATM systems. Unfortunately for them, this is no glitch or life hack. What they did was commit check fraud, which is a criminal offense. 

Media publications like CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported on this TikTok scam this week, warning users not to attempt the new, trendy felony currently blowing up on TikTok. 

Ex-TikTok star sentenced for double murder

Ali Abulaban, a TikTok star who shot and killed his wife and another man, received his sentence this Friday. The court sentenced Abulaban to a total prison term of 50 years to life, plus two life terms with no chance of parole. 

Abulaban, a TikToker from San Diego, fatally shot his wife, Ana Abulaban, and a man she was seeing, Rayburn Barron, in an apartment back in October 2021. A jury convicted him of two counts of first-degree murder this May. 

According to witnesses in the trial, he had a history of being violent with his wife. The two had separated, with Ana telling Ali she wanted him out of her life just hours before he murdered her. 

The former TikTok star rose to fame with his comedy videos impersonating famous characters like Scarface. He had almost 1 million followers. 

Airport tray aesthetics are getting influencers slammed on social media

Curating collections of travel accessories is a new viral trend.
Curating collections of travel accessories is a new viral trend. (
Maureen O'Hare/CNN)
A new trend emerged for young social media users, particularly on apps like TikTok and Pinterest: taking aesthetically-pleasing photos of your items as you go through airport security. Participants in the trend are organizing the contents of their carry-ons such as shoes, books, jewelry and other accessories in the plastic TSA bins, snapping cute pictures, and then sending their belongings through the scanners.

A New York Post opinion piece called the trend "annoying," claiming that participating TikTokers are wasting people's time in the TSA lines, places already notorious for being time-consuming and frustrating at best. With people rushing to board their flights, it's understandable why some may find the newest photography trend irritating. 

Pew Research Center: Support for a TikTok ban has decreased among American adults

In a Pew Research Center survey conducted July 15 - Aug. 4, 2024, it was found that many Americans adults do not believe TikTok will be banned in the U.S. In March 2023, 50% of surveyed U.S. adults supported banning TikTok. That percentage has decreased to 32% with this new survey. In addition, 28% say they overtly oppose instating a TikTok ban, up from 22% in March 2023. 

Support for the app and opposition for the ban are bipartisan, but those who identify as Democrats oppose banning TikTok more than Republicans, while more Republicans support the U.S. government banning TikTok. 

Half of those surveyed said they believe the U.S. actually banning TikTok is unlikely, while 19% are unsure and 31% say it's likely. Those statistics also are practically the same along party lines, with 52% of surveyed Republicans and 50% of surveyed Democrats finding the ban unlikely. 

Comments

  1. Camren HardySeptember 8, 2024 at 10:15 PM

    Watching the chaos unfold from the viral "Chase Bank hack" this week has been one of the best things I've seen in awhile. It amazes me how many people thought they could just get "free" money and that there wouldn't be any repercussions for doing it. It also makes me wonder if Chase Bank knew about this flaw in their system. If they did then they either thought people wouldn't try to commit fraud so easily, or they planned on using it to catch people who did use it to commit fraud. If they didn't then this was a serious oversight by one of the biggest banks in the US that if not posted about on social media could have went undetected by them for who knows how long.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Skyler HensleySeptember 13, 2024 at 8:04 PM

    It’s so crazy to me to see the effects that TikTok can have on a person’s behavior. The fact that a viral TikTok trend can cause people to commit a felony is frightening to see. It makes me wonder how far a person would be willing to go in order to complete a trend. For example, is it possible that a violent act could become a TikTok trend and potentially lead to mass numbers of people harming others?

    The airport tray aesthetic trend that has emerged on social media is also slightly concerning. I feel like this trend shows a total disregard for polite or appropriate social behavior. People are willing to inconvenience those around them just so they can take a picture. Due to these concerning behaviors that are arising from TikTok trends, I am surprised to see that support for a TikTok ban has decreased among American adults. While I personally do not think TikTok needs to be banned, I do believe that increased regulations on the app are necessary and important.

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  3. Keanu GarrettSeptember 19, 2024 at 3:12 PM

    I'm surprised at the lack of discernment that viewers of this "Chase ATM Hack" had. The fact that someone saw other people doing something so sketchy and decided to do it as well, and thought that they could without consequences is insane. This goes to show the influence that Tik Tok or any social media plays in our lives. Whether it was for money sake or in the name of keeping up with the latest trends it led many people to committing a felony. I'm not that shocked by the results of how many people believe that Tik Tok will not be banned. I think a lot of bad/ foolish activity happens on that app, like any other social media app, but I don't think banning the app will stop those kinds of activities. Its never the app's fault its the people that use these apps. I think if people would have more discernment and use wisdom as they make their choices and not just do the latest trends we wouldn't have trends like the "Chase ATM Hack" happening or at least influencing people.

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