India, Nov. 13 -- Police in California's Irvine have issued an urgent warning to parents over the resurgence of the viral "Door Kick Challenge," a dangerous social media trend in which youngsters violently kick strangers' front doors, film the act, and run away. In a blunt Facebook post, the Irvine Police Department cautioned that chasing online likes through such stunts is not a harmless prank, but an act of vandalism that can trigger criminal charges or dangerous confrontations.

"This isn't a prank. It's vandalism, and it can end badly," the Irvine Police Department warned in a Facebook post.

Explaining what the challenge is all about, the department continued, "The Door Kick Challenge is making the rounds on social media again. The i...