Disturbing TikTok Trend Emerges on College Campuses

A troubling new trend has begun circulating on TikTok, where anonymous users film themselves urinating on public spaces around college campuses. The accounts, which have appeared nationwide, have now surfaced in Illinois as well. Videos have been posted from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), Millikin University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), and Illinois State University (ISU). The accounts that do this have started calling themselves “pissers,” often titling their pages after the campus they target.

In these videos, individuals are seen urinating on statues, campus signs, and other iconic landmarks recognizable to students. The postings are presented in a way that almost parodies the behavior of serial killers, though instead of committing violence, the individuals seek notoriety by desecrating public property. In some instances, copycat accounts have also been created, including multiple “pissers” appearing at ISU.

At this time, it is not clear why the trend began or where it originated, but its spread has been both rapid and concerning. Beyond the immediate disrespect toward campus property, the actions may rise to the level of criminal conduct, as public urination and vandalism are both punishable offenses.

Local residents and students are strongly urged to condemn this behavior and avoid giving these accounts the attention they are designed to attract. While no such accounts have yet been confirmed at Springfield-area campuses such as the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) or Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC), vigilance remains important. Anyone who witnesses such acts is encouraged to report them immediately to campus security or local law enforcement.

This trend undermines the pride and respect that students, alumni, and surrounding communities place in their campuses. Authorities and university officials emphasize that those who engage in or promote this type of behavior could face serious consequences, and they encourage students to help put an end to the trend by refusing to participate or share the content further.

In recent years, TikTok has been the source of other harmful trends that blurred the line between prank and criminal conduct. One of the most widely known was the 2021 “devious lick” challenge, in which students across the country filmed themselves stealing or vandalizing school property, prompting widespread disciplinary action and even law enforcement involvement. The current “pisser” trend follows a similar path, encouraging reckless acts that damage campuses and disrupt community life, even if the method of notoriety has shifted.