The Social Media 'Kia Challenge' And How It Sparks An Increase In Car Theft

Thanks to the internet, people can communicate through the distance, also allowing them to receive the most updated information, cheaply and efficiently.

As for the latter, this results in an increased feeling of "fear of missing out." As a result, some people would go to an extent to and and follow what others are doing on social media networks, careless about whether what they ware doing are harmful to others or not.

And this time, social media networks that have given birth to various and numerous of challenges, are seeing an increase of what's called the 'Kia Challenge'.

The challenge that first sparked on TikTok before spreading on other platforms, like YouTube, has led to an increase in car thefts around the U.S..

With instructional videos about stealing cars using only a USB charging cord, youngsters who are mostly aged between 14 and 17 are trying what they can to steal cars, and share what they're doing online.

The videos that are being shared online by many accounts with huge followers, show car thieves targeting Kia vehicles, as well as others that also include Hyundai cars.

The instructional video instructs social media users to remove the under-column cowl beneath the steering wheel, to then instruct people to use a USB cord to start the cars.

Success in doing so allow them to steal the cars.

Some of the youths then shared videos of themselves stealing the cars, with some calling themselves the "Kia Boys," joy riding the stolen cars.

Some even purposefully crash the cars they stole, or dumping them.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the trend appears to have begun, thefts of Hyundai and Kia cars account for 66% of car thefts. Thanks to the internet challenge, this number has grown by a whopping 2,500% compared to 2021.

According to the police department in St. Petersberg, Florida, officers are "seeing an unusual trend" regarding car thefts related to the social media posts.

"Since July 11th, 23 out of 56 stolen cars have been Kia/Hyundais models 2021 and older, that use keys to start," the police department posted on Twitter. "Anyone with a KIA/Hyundai that uses a key, please #lockitup."

Kias and Hyundais are being targeted because some of the models have "vulnerability" that allow their engines to be started once the steering column is broken, said Sgt. Cody Lance, who investigates car thefts for the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Kia models produced from 2011 and 2012 and Hyundai models from 2015 to 2021 have a vulnerability that means the ignition can be easily bypassed.

With the many FOMO youngsters and young adults that steal the two South Korean car brands in the U.S., the incidents have led to dangerous situations.

For example, some suspects and bystanders were seriously injured or even killed following unsafe driving and crashes related to the thefts.

Regardless, both Kia and Hyundai noted that they are aware of the thefts, but said that their vehicles a"meet or exceed" Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Due to the unrest, Tommy G, a YouTuber met with the Kia Boys to understand the trend through their perspective.

Tommy met them somewhere in Milwaukee and asked them to do a "Day in the Life" video while being interviewed. They agree under one condition: they are not going to show their faces or plates.

The boys found joy and laughter while stealing cars and driving recklessly.

When asked about being afraid of death, they responded indifferently. They know at some point they all have to die.

“Bloody Summer” saying, “a lot of people gonna die.”

Regardless, the youngsters do find value in their education, and do have dreams of being successful. They do what they do, simply because they are users of social media, and also because the typical punishment for this kind of behavior isn't harsh.

Interviewing many people from the neighborhood, many of them said that they tried to get them to stop but they won’t.

Because of this reason, the authorities recommend owners of vulnerable Kias and Hyundais to:

1. Park their cars in well lit area.
2. Lock the doors and fully-close the windows.
3. Use anti-theft devices, like steering wheel lock.