Photo by guy_dupont on Tiktok
This Halloween decoration is giving tech workers PTSD.
A TikTok creator has made a Halloween decoration that gives his neighbors work anxiety. Guy Dupont created what he calls a “Slack-o-lantern,” a pumpkin carved with the Slack logo that plays the app’s notification sound when people walk past it.
The pumpkin has a motion sensor and speaker hidden inside. When someone gets close, the Slack logo lights up and the notification sound plays. Dupont shared a video of his creation on TikTok on October 20, 2025. The video quickly went viral with 3.1 million views.
In the video, Dupont said his design was made to scare his tech worker neighbors. They’ll be walking by, thinking they’re done for the day, and then the notification sound goes off. He showed how the motion sensor works by waving his hand over the carved logo, making it light up. He said the sound really gets the dread going for him.
This is way too real for people who work in offices
The Slack-o-lantern really bothered viewers who use these apps at work. Many people in the comments said they panic when they hear the Slack notification sound, even when they’re not working. The huge response showed how much these workplace apps stress people out.
But several users said that Microsoft Teams has an even scarier notification sound. One person said they were glad the pumpkin didn’t use Teams sounds instead. While “Teams-o-lantern” doesn’t sound as good as Slack-o-lantern, many viewers told Dupont to make a version with the Teams notification. Just like how Kia and Hyundai drivers recently found out they might get settlement money over bad airbags, the tech workers learned something bad about their daily lives through social media.
The huge response made Dupont do something unexpected. On October 21, 2025, just one day after posting the first video, he shared another video where he smashed the Slack-o-lantern. He said everyone needed to let out some frustration, so he decided to destroy it.
Before smashing the pumpkin, Dupont said people shouldn’t blame Slack. He told viewers to blame their coworkers instead. He said the app isn’t the problem, it’s the people sending too many messages. He then stomped on the pumpkin with his foot, ending the Slack-o-lantern’s short life.Even a simple notification sound can make people stressed because they connect it with work. Like how a NYC taxi driver spotted something on a white Ford Escape that could cost drivers thousands, Dupont’s Halloween decoration reminded everyone how much workplace apps have taken over daily life. The sounds alone can make people genuinely anxious.



Published: Oct 23, 2025 12:33 pm