TikTok prank backfires: Mother faces R35k fine for cracking egg on daughter's forehead

 A SWEDISH mother has found herself facing legal consequences for participating in a notorious TikTok trend that involves cracking raw eggs on unsuspecting family members' heads. 

The 24-year-old mother was convicted of harassment after she filmed herself smashing an egg on her young daughter’s forehead and then shared the video online.

What might have been intended as a playful family moment now raises significant ethical questions about the use of children in viral stunts.

Although the daughter did not initiate the complaint, an anonymous tip-off prompted authorities to investigate, culminating in a court ruling that deemed the act "degrading" and "reckless".

Prosecutor Emma Olsson did not hold back in her condemnation of the prank, stating: "You simply don’t do that to a child. To record and humiliate the child and then broadcast it to thousands of viewers … I find that incredibly degrading. It’s a reckless act."

Her words reflect a growing concern over the permissibility of using children as props in parental content, particularly in today's digital landscape, where viral trends can easily spiral out of control.

The court agreed with Olsson's sentiments, ordering the mother to pay her daughter SEK 20,000 (approximately R35,000) in damages, however, the mother maintains that the stunt was common harmless fun.

Critics are now scrutinising the implications of such pranks, with many debating whether children should be treated as vehicles for their parents' digital ambitions.

Social media reactions to this case have been mixed, with some weighing in with empathy for children who have influencer parents. 

@tayja_moore stated, “I feel bad for the kids with influencer moms that can't give consent to anything regardless of how 'innocent'.” 

@mariaryankadem said: "👏👏👏 this! The only cracking eggs content we should see is parents teaching kids to cook ❤️."

@the.memento.mori.project wrote: "Sad that so many people exploit their children at the prospect of 'going viral'."

Meanwhile, @austingizinski5 commented, "Too many soft people these days."