KNOW THE DANGERS BEFORE YOUR KID DOES
#LETHALTRENDS
#LETHALTRENDS
STORY”All kinds of challenges like staying outside for 24 hours or not eating anything for 24 hours.”
”For example, taking pictures on railway tracks a couple of years ago was dangerous to health and involved a risk of death.”
Harmful and dangerous social media challenges are phenomena spreading on the internet that can cause physical or psychological harm to those who participate. Such challenges can be dangerous to health, safety, or well-being. Social media challenges often spread particularly on video-based social media platforms.
Social media challenges spread quickly and can become well-known phenomena among children and teenagers. Not all challenges directly prompt doing something or contain the word 'challenge.' People just start participating in the phenomenon, and everyone posts their own version of a stunt or performance to social media. It can be difficult for a child to recognize such a phenomenon as a challenge. The pressure to participate in these stunts or challenges can grow because children and teenagers might feel they are missing out on something significant.
”All sorts of foolish stunts are constantly seen being performed by non-professionals, and this encourages trying them out too.”
”The one where you jump from a house balcony into a tree.”
”I've come across 'rooftopping,' a hobby that involves climbing high masts and buildings. Often, the locations are on locked premises, and gaining access to the area requires breaking a lock or door.”
Social media challenges can be harmless, fun, and a communal way to spend time. Such challenges may include various dance challenges or challenges that spread awareness about an important issue. In some challenges, participants may be encouraged to eat something out of the ordinary or perform daring physical stunts. Sometimes, on the other hand, excessive consumption of an otherwise ordinary ingredient can be harmful. At worst, a social media challenge can be life-threatening. It can be difficult for a child or teenager to assess which challenges are harmful to physical or psychological health.
”I've come across some challenges on TikTok at times. I personally haven't participated much, but I wonder what much younger viewers think when they see one. In my opinion, there's nothing inherently bad in them (unless we're talking about something life-threatening, etc.), they can even be fun, but often I find myself thinking, this is okay for me, but what might a much younger viewer think when something like that appears on their screen.”
It's important for adults to be aware of their child's media landscape and the social media challenges present there. Just being on the same social media platform as the child is not enough, because algorithms provide different content to each user. For this reason, it's important to have ongoing conversations with the child about their media use.
Challenges circulating in social media often seem harmless, fun, entertaining, and community-enhancing. The challenges may appear as playful togetherness, where participants act silly alone or together. It can be difficult for a child to recognize which challenges may be harmful.
"On TikTok, there's a challenge where you eat a spoonful of salt; if you can handle it, you're considered ""cool"" or a ""strong person."" The reason why the amount of salt is a spoonful is because it's harmful to your body.
It's good to talk with your child about their media use, which social media channels they use, and the types of content they encounter in their media consumption. Not all challenges are harmful or dangerous, and some challenges increase community spirit, awareness, and purely do good. It's important that the child recognizes which contents increase their own and others' well-being. At the same time, they should be able to identify which contents are safe and know how to act if they come across something suspicious, scary or unpleasant content.
”I've come across some challenges where something is stuffed into the mouth, and one could choke on it, but I haven't participated in that.”
It's also important to discuss with your child how to act if they encounter harmful or dangerous social media challenges. Even if the child doesn't use social media, they can still be exposed to various social media challenges. Emotionally stirring challenges might be shared among friends through private messages or simply by telling about them.
Has the child or teenager encountered any social media challenges? What have they been like?
What is the purpose of the challenge?
Has any challenge stuck in the mind? Why?
How to recognize a dangerous social media challenge?
What could be the consequences of participating in the challenge for oneself or others?
What are safe social media challenges to participate in?
Are there challenges that could benefit someone?
What challenges should absolutely not be participated in or shared?
Teach your child critical thinking online and the logic of digital environments. Remind them that not everything we see on social media, in games, or online is always what it seems. Images and videos are easy to manipulate, making them appear authentic, for example, with the help of artificial intelligence. The same applies to social media challenges. If something seems or feels suspicious, too good to be true, or just unbelievable, it probably is."
”Online, especially on TikTok and Instagram, you come across all sorts of challenges. I'm in the sixth grade myself, and I can't understand how for someone social media popularity could be more important than their own life and well-being.”
It's important to be aware that many users aim to gain attention, followers, or have their content boosted by algorithms with emotionally stirring content. This sometimes leads to content being intentionally produced to fit the logic of algorithms.
Algorithms are programmed to act according to the service provider's goals. They aim to optimize the time spent on the platform rather than, for example, considering whether you want to follow friends on social media or receive content that interests you. The algorithm selects the publications and content that we see on the platforms.
Algorithms particularly favor content that is image- or video-based or that users react strongly to, for example, by liking, sharing, or commenting on it. Amazing, extremely funny, or dangerous and daring challenges are examples of content that the algorithm is programmed to favor, which is why there is a lot of production of such content.
When it comes to social media challenges, it's always worth checking what cause the challenge is made for and who initiated it.
If a child tells you about their participation in a dangerous social media challenge, thank the child for sharing this information with you. Try to remain calm. Ask them to explain in their own words and possibly show from their device what the challenge entails. Explain why participating in this particular social media challenge is dangerous and reassure them that you're glad they're safe. Emphasize that you're concerned because their safety and health are important to you and that you care about them.
Discuss together what could have happened if the challenge had gone wrong and what consequences it could have had for the child themselves or others. Explain to the child why it's important to report or warn others about the challenge. Reflect together on how to recognize dangerous social media challenges in the future and why it's best not to participate in them.
It's also good to discuss why it can sometimes be difficult to resist participating in challenges. Peer pressure from friends may be one such reason. Brainstorm together various ways to handle such situations.
Remind the child that they shouldn't encourage others to do things against their will. It's also not advisable to share harmful or dangerous social media challenges. Finally, inform the parents of the child's friends that you've become aware of a harmful or dangerous social media challenge that children have attempted to do. If the child is of school age, it may be a good idea to inform the child's school about the situation.
If the child has posted content related to the challenge on social media, remove it so that others don't share or attempt the challenge. You can also ask the child's friends to remove content related to the dangerous challenge.
Report - If a social media challenge seems harmful or dangerous, inform an adult. Report the challenge to the platform's administration, to MLL's reporting channel, or to the authorities. This way, you also protect other users.
"I have encountered some offensive or potentially dangerous communities, but I have ignored them, for example, by reporting them."
It is important that the opinions of our youth are heard and respected."
"Hopefully, this survey will make a difference."
Responses to MLL's Youth Media Use Survey were collected through an online survey in November 2023. A total of 3627 young people responded to the survey. Of these, 3014 (83.1%) are aged 13-17, 314 (8.7%) are aged 9-12, and 299 (8.2%) are aged 18-22. Therefore, the responses to the survey strongly emphasize the experiences and views of upper secondary school-age and high school students on harmful and dangerous social media challenges.
Of the respondents, 2002 (55.2%) are girls and 1423 (39.2%) are boys. 106 respondents identified their gender as "other," and 96 young people who responded to the survey did not want to disclose their gender.
In MLL's Youth Media Use Survey 2024, responses show that encountering dangerous social media challenges is commonplace for many children and young people. The survey received a large number of open-ended responses from young people, and they described the dangerous social media challenges they had seen in detail.
"Six really strong nicotine pouches at the same time in the lip, and I did not participate in this or join."
"I have often come across Finnish fitness/wellness influencers' channels where they advertise their own 'week quick diets' where you can lose 5kg in a couple of days and your butt grows bigger at the same time. I participated in it because I have experienced bullying throughout primary and secondary school related to my size, and I have tried to lose weight, but luckily it hasn't worked, those challenges add to the pressure of appearance and especially make young girls feel very insecure."
In the Youth Media Use Survey, young people raised several reasons why they had participated in dangerous social media challenges. According to young people, curiosity, having fun, peer pressure, boredom, seeking followers and likes, and testing their own limits were reasons to join challenges. One in four respondents to the survey thought that social media challenges increased the sense of belonging.
"I saw on TikTok when someone breathed dry shampoo and almost died."
"I saw a video on YouTube where guys competed to see who could go the longest without eating."
A large number of young people have encountered harmful or dangerous social media challenges. Many mention in their open responses to the survey that they have seen challenges involving breath-holding, fainting, or climbing. Several young people have seen challenge videos where they harm themselves, such as hitting their hand on a can until it breaks, cutting their skin, or burning themselves. Challenges that encourage eating or fasting are also frequently mentioned. Responses also mention challenges involving illegal activities, such as stealing or damaging property. Many responses mention TikTok as the platform where dangerous challenges have been encountered.
"Someone had come up with a challenge to take a can and hit the can with your hand until the can breaks and your hand is bleeding. I heard about this from a friend and decided to try it, and as a result, I also had a bleeding hand, and in retrospect, I didn't find any benefit from it, and it was more dangerous..."
"I've encountered a challenge called the 'oxygen high' where you press on your diaphragm until you lose consciousness, but I haven't tried it myself, and no one in my close circle has."
Approximately 50 young people mention by name the Blue Whale challenge in their open responses, where self-destructive acts are performed, and the final task is suicide. A few young people also mention participating in it themselves, and at least one even attempted suicide.
However, most young people in their open responses state that they have not participated in dangerous challenges themselves but have only seen them. Nevertheless, young people have been involved in experiences they perceive as dangerous, such as challenges involving eating a spoonful of salt or cinnamon, placing dishwasher tablets in the mouth, consuming glue, or quickly drinking a bottle of soda and attempting not to burp.
"Six really strong nicotine pouches at the same time on the lip, and I didn't participate or join in."
Reasons for participating in perceived dangerous challenges include curiosity, fun, peer pressure, boredom, seeking followers and likes, and testing personal limits. Some young people admit to being more foolish when younger and say they would no longer participate in similar challenges. Some respondents express concern for younger social media users who may not yet have developed critical thinking skills regarding online content and, therefore, the dangers of challenges.
"I participated because my friends were playing, and then it was fun and fascinating, felt different."
According to the responses of young people, the effects of challenges and associated pros and cons are divided. Nearly a quarter of young people (23.4%) believed that challenges could involve bullying, discrimination, harassment, or abuse. Almost an equal number of young people saw challenges as potentially causing pressure to be the same and do the same as others (22.8%). Nearly half (48.6%) of young people believed that challenges do not increase the sense of belonging, although in open responses, young people cited examples of various community-building challenges. Just over one-fifth (21.6%) of young people felt that challenges could cause stress, fear, or anxiety.
“Challenges that promote charity and community spirit, such as group dance events or making videos to a specific song.”
“The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was an excellent example of a positive challenge in my opinion; it raised money for charity, and it was entertaining to watch.”
“During the pandemic, there was that toilet paper challenge where we built a tower; it was fun and increased the sense of belonging.”
Youth were specifically asked to provide examples of a positive or good social media challenge. When reflecting on a positive or good challenge, young people mentioned charity challenges in multiple responses. Some young people appreciate challenges that encourage creative activities, such as drawing or crafts. They also viewed challenges done with friends positively. Some young people mentioned encountering fitness challenges that maintain physical fitness. However, these types of challenges were also seen to cause appearance pressure and stress.
“There are many influencers on social media who recommend different diets, and although some are reasonable, they cause a lot of stress for young people regarding what they should eat.”
"I'll say right now that I haven't participated in any social media challenges or communities myself, I've just encountered them."
"I didn't join the challenge at all, and the challenge was to take too much medication to feel funny."
In the survey, young people were presented with a list of various ways to protect themselves from harmful social media challenges in list format. Young people were asked to rate these methods on a five-point scale (completely agree, somewhat agree, neutral, somewhat disagree, completely disagree).
Options related to discussion, such as talking with a friend or an adult, gathered the fewest 'completely agree' responses Based on the responses, young people need more information about ways to protect themselves and others from harmful and dangerous social media challenges.
Mannerheimin Lastensuojeluliitto submitted a petition signed by over 10,000 citizens to the Finnish government, urging it to do everything in its power to hold social media giants accountable and make social media platforms safe for children and young people. The petition was submitted on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, to Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne.
MLL submitted a petition to Minister Lulu Ranne to enhance social media safety.