Dangerous Social Media Challenges Need to Stop!

At one time, the internet used to be a much more peaceful place than it is now. MSN Messenger was hugely popular, Facebook wasn't a thing and you were considered 'seriously cool' if you had the latest music downloaded onto your phone. However, now the internet is vast, frightening and downright stupid.

Social media is now a huge part of many people's everyday lives and so-called Social Media Celebrities are influencing their younger viewers. There are so many different challenges that have done the rounds on the many different social media websites, from fun and entertaining challenges, like the 'Ice Bucket Challenge,' to challenges that can cause serious harm and sometimes even death. As old challenges fade, there's no doubt that new and more dangerous challenges will surface.

One of these dangerous challenges is the troubling 'Duct Tape Challenge' that was very popular on YouTube. This challenge involves you having your body wrapped up in duct tape and seeing how long it takes you to escape. Some teens have even been filmed being taped to a chair or even a wall. While this can seem like an entertaining challenge to some, there have been some near-fatal consequences as a result of taking part. Fourteen-year-old Skylar and two friends took part in the challenge in January 2016. Skylar's friends wrapped his hands and legs in duct tape and waited for him to free himself. Skylar lost his balance as he tried to free himself and fell forwards, hitting his head on the corner of a window frame and then fell heavily onto the concrete floor. As a result of this challenge going seriously wrong, Skylar suffered an aneurysm and a shattered cheekbone and eye socket. If he had hit the frame differently, he could have died. He needed 48 stitches in his head. There are over 200,000 videos on YouTube of people attempting this challenge and while most aren't as unfortunate as Skylar, there are many videos of teenagers falling over, crying and vomiting as they attempt to 'escape the tape.'

A painful challenge that teens attempt on social media is the 'salt and ice challenge.' In this internet phenomenon, teens pour salt into their hand or onto their arm and then place ice on top of the salt. This causes a burning sensation and whoever can withstand the pain the longest 'wins' the challenge. Participants have come away from the challenge with second and third-degree burns. Photos of the burns and blisters as a result of the challenge have emerged on social media and teens are still boasting and daring others to do the same, despite sporting these injuries.

Recently, challenges involving consuming toxic materials have become increasingly popular. One of the most popular challenges has been the ever-popular 'Cinnamon Challenge.' Cinnamon is delicious and adds a warm and spicy flavor to many sweet and savory dishes. However, participants of this challenge are placing a spoonful of this spice in their mouths and trying to swallow it. This challenge has potentially deadly effects. There are many negative effects that the cinnamon can have on the body as a result of this challenge. The cinnamon coats and dries the throat leading to gagging, choking and vomiting. It can also cause irritation and breathing difficulties if inhaled, as well as pulmonary inflammation, which can cause scarring on your airways and aspiration pneumonia.

The 'TidePod Challenge' has been one of the most talked about challenges on social media and news sites over the past few months. Videos circulated on social media showing children and teens biting into these laundry detergent pods or cooking them in frying pans then chewing on them before spewing the soap out of their mouths. These pods come with a warning on the box for a reason. They contain a highly concentrated and toxic detergent that can cause great harm if ingested. Consuming detergent pods can cause diarrhea and vomiting and in the worst case scenarios, consumption can be life-threatening.

These are only three of the most dangerous challenges sweeping the nation recently. The rise of social media has contributed to an increase in peer pressure and these challenges are clear examples of this. Social media exposure is becoming increasingly important to young people, but to what end? The challenges are not interesting and they are sometimes even disturbing to watch. What sane person wants to watch someone choke on something or injure themselves for likes or shares?

It is understandable that parents can't always be aware of what their children are doing but they should take the time to educate their children on the dangers of such challenges and that they can say 'no' to peer pressure. Young people need to be taught that these challenges are a learning experience, not something to be copied. They should be taught to learn from other people's mistakes and not succumb to peer pressure or pressure their friends to put their lives at risk.