Washing your hands is super important, especially during the pandemic. But it's been harder to do lately, because kids have been stealing soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers from school bathrooms, and destroying other equipment.

This is likely because of a trend on TikTok.

In Proctor, at the Jedlika Middle School, it's meant extra surveillance. "This has become a full time job, checking the bathrooms," Joe Krasselt told us. He's the principal. "When situations do happen, we can go back and look at the surveillance footage, and figure out who was in there.'

Consequences include citations, fines, and extra cleaning duties. "My goal is to keep kids in the classroom, so I'm avoiding suspensions for this kind of violation," Krasselt added.

He had this message for families and parents. "I encourage them to be involved in their child's social media. Make sure to monitor that. Students can go to great lengths to impress their friends."

Esko's principal at the high school sent an email to students. In it, Greg Hexum wrote, "Please don't do this stuff. What would your grandpa say if he found out you were vandalizing your school? How are you gonna look your kindergarten teacher in the eye in the hallway if she figures out you're the one ripping toilet paper dispensers out of the stalls?"

Hexum is encouraging people to come forward and share more information about who is doing the vandalism, and you can be kept confidential. There is even a cash reward.

Cloquet's superintendent said they have had some issues, llike soap dispensers going missing and kids spraying Kool-aid on the walls. "We investigate the issues and implement consequences consistent with our discipline procedure," Michael Cary added.

TikTok has removed the hashtag that seemed to create the viral trend.

To watch the original report and see related stories, follow this link to the WDIO-TV website. https://www.wdio.com/news/bathroom-vandalism-tiktok-schools-students/6241344/