Orange County influencer Maryana Dvorska (@maryanadvorska) recently unpacked a vibration plate she purchased from the TikTok store. But as she lay in bed, audio of people speaking in another language started playing on the TV and she was horrified.
The 36-second video shows a nervous Dworska, who may have woken up from a nap.
“Well, I’m scared now,” she said. “So I’m lying in bed and earlier today I unpacked this thing that’s like a vibrating plate that I bought from the TikTok store. Please watch the next video because it just randomly starts talking. Can someone translate what they’re saying and what’s going on? Do I need to get this thing out of my house? What’s going on?”
What language does this vibrating plate speak?
In the second creepy video, Dworska sews a language that sounds like an Asian language, but it’s not immediately distinguishable, coming from a vibrating plate. What sounded like conversation elicited a “wow” sound from the male voice. The key point here, though, is that the device appears to have powered itself on, or has some underlying source of power that prevents it from completely powering down.
Dworska later commented, “Someone said it has Bluetooth and is probably picking up nearby frequencies.” Another agreed: “It’s probably Bluetooth! Mine is too [connects] Sometimes watching my upstairs neighbor’s TV/computer. The last time it connected to a Teams meeting, I could hear everything. “
However, many warn that people using vibration plates for a variety of purposes, from muscle building to improving blood circulation, can pose a risk to home safety.
“There might even be cameras and microphones recording your voice,” one commenter said. “I would definitely get this out of my house immediately. Not worth the risk.”
Other TikTok users have encountered similar issues. One woman detailed how her vibrating plate suddenly cut off, which made no sense. Her family doesn’t live close enough for Bluetooth connectivity to be a factor. It also somehow started on its own.
TikTok store equipment purchased by Dvorska
The device Dvorska purchased on the TikTok store is a Chinese-made Merach-branded PulseVib V30 Pro vibration plate with Bluetooth connectivity that plays music through an integrated speaker when connected to a smartphone.
The TikTok store’s product page is fairly sparse in terms of specifics and mainly features different colors, reviews, photos, and other products.
In recent years, there have been cases online where Bluetooth is vulnerable to attacks, compromising home devices and data storage. Bluetooth was found to be used to eavesdrop on unsuspecting victims. Criminals are also hacking into headsets, smartwatches and vehicles to collect call logs, emails and location history.
Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky said, “Most fitness trackers connect to your phone via Bluetooth. This means potential security holes could allow hackers to access your information.” CNBC reported in 2022 that fitness trackers “often connect to users’ phones via Bluetooth, leaving personal data vulnerable to hackers.” Digital security firm Aura noted that “hackers and criminals can exploit your device’s Bluetooth connection to steal data or spy on you.”
Dvorska’s vibration plate scare is a reminder that smart fitness devices can be equipped with connectivity features and should be thoroughly researched. Consumer advocates and safety experts recommend checking product specifications right out of the box or online. Users should also disable Bluetooth when the device is not in use and unpair any unnecessary connections.
All Hip Hop via TikTok Contact Dvorska (@maryanadvorska) for comment.
@maryanadvorska
I’m so real now…
♬ Original Sound – Maryana Dvorska
