The popularity of social media and the internet has led to the development of a new craze: children and young people have recently been completing a slew of online challenges. As an educator, you may need to face both types in your school or educational setting. While many of these challenges are fun and light-hearted, others are harmful and sn babes dangerous.
In this article, we will discuss the potential dangers associated with internet challenges, outline the crazes that you should be aware of in order to better support students, and provide advice on how to respond effectively to any challenge-related incidents that occur.
What is an Online Challenge & How Can It Be Dangerous? An online challenge generally involves an individual recording themselves completing a challenge and distributing the video through social media channels. The challenge is often something difficult or daring, which they then invite others to complete themselves.
After the creation of apps like TikTok, online challenges have become increasingly popular. Different challenges are created every day, and there is a continuous wave of them trending and going viral (being widely and rapidly shared online). Children and young people are constantly exposed to these challenges via their phones and other electronic devices, which can be extremely problematic.
This is because some internet and social media challenges are dangerous. In extreme cases, young people have died attempting them - for example, in the case of Joshua Haileyesus in March 2021 - and others have experienced consequences such as seizures, comas, safeguarding issues, and third-degree burns (for the latter, see Abbie Quinnen, also in March 2021).
Children and young people do not always perceive the risks involved in a challenge, and this - combined with factors such as peer pressure - leads them to complete a task which has the potential to harm them.
However, it is important to stress that not all online challenges are harmful. Some, such as the ASL Ice Bucket Challenge, were created to raise money for a good cause. In fact, the great majority of TikTok crazes revolve around recreating different dances, which is generally risk-free.
Hoaxes
Additionally, some of the most extreme internet challenges are actually hoaxes - those that are deliberately made up and designed to seem truthful. Rumours about these sorts of challenges can spread and cause panic. For example, several years ago ‘blue whale challenge’ was reported to be an online suicide game aimed at teenagers, linked to numerous deaths around the world. However, investigation has revealed that the game didn’t really seem to exist at all.
As a result, you should always do your research and remain level-headed when facing a supposed challenge.
Why are Internet Challenges Popular?There are a few potential reasons behind the popularity of viral internet challenges, including:
Socialising. They give children and young people opportunities to socialise with friends in different ways, and give them the feeling of being part of a community.
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noreenc7156522 edited this page 2026-02-23 23:10:57 +08:00