Understanding Parenting Challenges: The Viral Ankle Monitor Hoax For Kids

Setting boundaries for your children—or even just stopping them wandering off—is a challenge for all parents. Whether sending them to the naughty step or restricting their screen time, getting kids to respect household rules can often be a frustrating, attritional experience for families. It was perhaps with that in mind that a video showing a zapping ankle monitor designed for kids went viral on TikTok this week, attracting tens of millions of views and raising the question of whether the shocking product was real.

A TikTok by the account legbootlegit, posted on August 1, 2023, and since viewed more than 30 million times, showed what appeared to be an ankle monitor for children. The video shows a person picking up the item, which is branded in the style of Little Tikes, off a store shelf. A voiceover quips, “If you're the parent of a young child and you're not getting enough sleep at night, I'm betting it's because your children will not stay in their room.”

In a twist, the video humorously suggests that the product can be set up to monitor a child's location and shock them if they move to any part of a property restricted via an adult-operated app. However, comments underneath the TikTok included cries of “abuse” and “Please tell me this is a joke." Indeed, it is a joke. The ankle monitor is not real.

Despite the convincing setup, the brand name on the box is “little yikes,” not the real-life popular manufacturer Little Tikes. The box also features ad copy clearly intended as a joke, such as “Make sure that little snot stays in its room!” and “Prepare your mini-me for its future house arrests.” The humorous tone was further emphasized by a warning sign at the top right of the box reading, “They will not stay. You must be firm. Try using a bike lock.”

The video's creator, LegBoot, is known for producing other deceptive yet humorous products like an “AI-generated action figure.” They have used the “little yikes” branding on other fake toys before, such as a “Cute Lil' Terror Tots Figure,” which includes the quote, “I will hunt you down in your nightmares and feast upon your terror.” Legboot stated that this idea stemmed from a collaboration with @shampoooty on Instagram, who has an ongoing art series called Kids Toys.

“Putting everything together probably took me around a month to do, since this is a hobby and I have two day jobs. I could have knocked it out in a few days otherwise,” Legboot shared. “I’ve only gotten one email from someone who said they ‘need a dozen of them as gag gifts.’ I received lots of comments on social media from parents, especially of teens, who said ‘I need this’ or ‘Where to buy?’ but the majority of those comments were from people who understood the joke.”

Ultimately, the “ankle monitor” for children is not real. It was created and posted by a TikTok account that specializes in creating phony products. Clues include the brand name “little yikes” and ad copy on the box such as “Prepare your mini me for its future house arrests.” This playful satirical commentary reflects the everyday struggles parents face in establishing boundaries with their children.

Understanding the context behind such jokes is crucial for parents navigating the challenges of raising kids in today's world. The humor in this viral video provides a light-hearted perspective on the often serious topic of parenting.

FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team

Update 8/16/23, 2:51 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comments from Legboot.