Dares have been around for a long time. Accepting dares for any number of reasons, kids have been known to burn themselves with erasers, touch hot stove coils, and choke themselves. Common results were pain, scarring or worse. Social Media Challenges are the new dares.
In many cases causing, irreparable damage to a person’s otherwise healthy body, Social Media Challenges are the latest in what’s being termed as stupid and dangerous internet fads. Social Media Challenges such as the Tide Pod Challenge, Hot Coil Challenge and Deodorant Challenge take inflicting bodily harm to a new level. In the news recently, first, second and even third degree burns are known to be the result of holding an arm, for as long as possible, on a red hot stove coil (Hot Coil Challenge) or spraying deodorant on someone, in the same spot, for as long as possible (Deodorant Challenge) for all the world to see!
Accepting the Deodorant Challenge, 3 young teenage girls suffered horrific burns, were hospitalized and now face skin grafts. The Deodorant Challenge, also known as the aerosol challenge, has been around for a while. A year ago, parents were warned about the Deodorant Challenge and advised to impress upon their children the dangers of burns of any type including those from pressurized gas within a deodorant can.
Summer is coming and with it the possibility of kids getting bored and, to fill the gap, spending hours and hours on social media. Social Media Challenges may be tempting so before boredom sets in, talk to your child about the dangers of participating in Social Media Challenges. Help your child understand that Social Media Challenges may damage or permanently scar a perfectly healthy body ~ for life!
