Social media has transitioned from an outlet of social interaction to a parasite that is negatively shaping the behavior of both the youth and adult populations. Since when is intentionally harming yourself or others an appropriate trend? Every month it’s something new, whether it’s swallowing cinnamon, lighting yourself on fire, putting salt and ice on your skin or shocking your body with a freezing ice bath. Whatever act of stupidity you choose to be your poison, the fact remains that it’s stupid.
Who knows who the originator of these online challenges that potentially burn your skin or make you choke to death was, but why someone would think its cool to follow along is still the million-dollar question. Go on YouTube and type in the word “challenge.” You’ll instantly lay your eyes on people of all ages from all over the world finding humor in harming themselves.
The cinnamon challenge, in which you try to swallow a spoon full of cinnamon without water, could cause inflammation of the throat and severe coughing and choking. Yay, you scarred your throat and lungs for a 10-minute YouTube video that your two subscribers will see. Here’s a cookie.
It might seem harmless. You and your friends are bored one night and decide to participate in a challenge to pass the time. Take the “good kids high” challenge, which involves one participant holding his or her breath until they lose consciousness, giving them an ultimate high. According to ABC News, since 2012, there have been over 400 fatalities due to this online challenge. The problem with the challenge is that when the people participating lose consciousness, they often die or become injured when they make contact with objects in the room or on the floor as they fall.
The worst part of it all is you have YouTube stars getting paid to do these dangerous challenges. Imagine the impact a YouTuber with millions of followers has on the world. With one video, they impact millions of viewers, and it only takes one “cool” person to do it before others chime in. Why is our generation so easily influenced? We are the age of technology, not poor judgment.
Do not put your health or your friend’s health in danger just to be a part of a fad that will surely fade. Today, it’s drinking your own pee and lighting yourself on fire, and tomorrow it will be chopping off fingers and jumping off cliffs. When do you draw the line?
Social media has too much influence on our daily lives. We can’t eat without posting it, we can’t post how we truly feel because we’re afraid of what others will think, we only wear what we see others wearing, and our ideas of what is considered suitable for leisure time have to be able to fit into a catchy hashtag.
Can we think for ourselves for once? I know it’s hard to think for yourself when you have media outlets hand-feeding you five-star garbage, but I believe in you.
The most recent challenges consist of ice baths, over-eating junk food, swallowing slices of ham without chewing and stuffing your mouth with ice or marshmallows. The list is endless. Sure there are some fun ones, like question challenges or drawing, but anything that might upset your stomach, cause an injury or even cause death is better to avoid.
Let’s act like responsible college students and choose not to participate in challenge trends we see our peers doing. Not only does it make you look immature, but many of these challenges are also hazardous. I value my health.
