Teens Are Stealing Nike Elite Backpack Zippers for TikTok Fame

I have two teenagers and have been an avid backpacker for over seven years. When I first heard about the disturbing new TikTok trend of teens stealing Nike Elite bag zippers, I was shocked and wary. Read below about “Teens Are Stealing Nike Elite Backpack Zippers for TikTok Fame”.

You can read about what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what we can do to stop this dangerous trend before it gets even worse in this post. As a seasoned traveler and bag expert, I’ve seen a lot of backpack trends come and go. But this one worries me the most because it involves theft and damage to property.

What’s Going On: The Spreading TikTok Trend

In the past few months, teens all over the country have been taking part in a popular TikTok challenge where they steal zipper pulls from Nike’s famous Elite line of backpacks. Teenagers see elite backpacks as a sign of social standing, and the Nike Swoosh logo zipper pulls that can be taken off are like trophies.

When TikTok users posted videos of themselves sneakily taking the zipper pulls off of Elite bags in stores and showing off their hauls, the trend began. Over 3 million people have seen the hashtag #nikeswooshzipperpull, which is pushing more teens to join in. Some people even sell the stolen zipper pulls online to make extra money.

Why Buy a Nike Elite Backpack?

People seem to be most interested in Nike’s Elite line of backpacks because they are famous, have easy-to-recognize branding, and have zipper pulls that can be taken off. They are easy to spot from far away thanks to the Swoosh logo.

Elite bags cost between $55 and $100, which makes them a desirable item for teens. The detachable Swoosh zipper pull is a sign of power and makes the wearer feel like they belong with other people who are “in the know.” Individual bags are not being stolen; rather, the zipper pull is being taken.

Also, the zipper pulls on Elite bags are designed to be easily removed. Teenagers have found that if they apply pressure in small turning motions, the pulls come right off with little effort and no damage to the zipper. They are easy to hit because of this.

Why this is so Troubling

At first look, this trend may seem small or even funny. However, it shows some troubling changes in the way young people act today:

• Not caring about other people’s property: Damage to someone else’s property for social media fame shows that you don’t care about other people.
• Normalizing theft: Being so careless about stealing sets a bad example and makes breaking the law seem like nothing.
• People make dangerous decisions because they want to fit in and get likes and follows. Teenagers can take part even if they have doubts.
• Lack of empathy: Most people don’t think about how their acts bother and cost backpack owners.
• Careless use of social media: Bad trends can spread quickly on sites like TikTok. A lot of people have bad reasoning.
• Putting status ahead of integrity: The desire to impress others and gain status leads to bad decisions instead of ones that are based on values.

As a mom and an experienced backpacker, this trend worries me on a lot of levels. Don’t ever think that small thefts are “kids just having fun.” Social media can be a creative outlet, but it can also make group pressure worse and change the minds of teens who are easily swayed.

What Parents and Schools Can Do

If you find out that your own kid has joined this trend, here are some good things you can do:

• Having an open conversation about principles, showing empathy, and thinking about what will happen before you act. Teenagers need more than just penalties.
• Making people do community service or charity work to help them develop their character by helping others.
• Setting limits and keeping a closer eye on how people use social media. Do not let anyone in.
• Taking away benefits if needed and praising good behavior at the same time.

Schools should also do things like teach students about how these kinds of trends affect society, the law, and morals. Help people think critically:

• Putting in place rules that say you can’t record peer crimes for social media. This leads to complicity.
• Adding more security near doors and displays of goods to stop thieves who take advantage of empty spaces.
• Working together with parents to find solutions means giving them tools and trend information.

We all need to teach our kids strong morals as a community. Teenagers will make mistakes, but the attitudes that lead to harmful viral trends can be changed with care, knowledge, and participation. But we need to do something right away, before things get even worse.

From Someone Who Knows About Backpack Security

I care a lot about keeping my bag safe because I like to travel a lot. Whether you’re going through an airport or a rough trail, you need a sturdy bag to keep your stuff safe.

I’ve been backpacking around the world for more than seven years and have learned a lot about how to keep my packs safe. Even the best-designed bags have flaws that thieves can use against them, as this trend shows.

Here are the best things I know to keep your bag and things inside safe:

• If you can, use small padlocks or locking carabiners to keep all of the flaps closed. Don’t depend on zippers alone.
• Put ripstop cloth behind the zippers to keep bags from being quietly cut.
• Put zipper pulls on cloth inside the bag so that they are hard to take off.
• Use bags that have pockets and sections that are hidden.
• When you’re in a crowd, keep your bag close to your body and be careful.
• Don’t even leave your backpack alone for a short time.
• Think about bags made of material that won’t get cut if you’re going to a very dangerous place.
• Track your lost or stolen items with Apple AirTags or GPS devices.
• Write your contact information clearly on your bag in case you lose it.
• If you lose or have your gadgets stolen, make copies of your data and photos.
• After using zippers, always look for signs that someone tampered with them.
• By being careful, we can beat small-time thieves who want to use weaknesses in backpacks to get what they want, whether it’s social media fame or money.

As people who like backpacks, we need to speak out against harmful online trends that encourage theft and damage to property. We can help teens and young adults make good decisions that won’t hurt their reputation or careers if we are careful and smart.

We just need to help the young people of today see that there are better ways to get ahead than stealing.