Internet Challenges and Their Impact on the Human Body
The rise of social media has fostered a culture of viral "challenges," where users attempt specific tasks to gain views and engagement. While some of these trends are harmless and intended for humor, others involve dangerous activities that can lead to severe physical injury. Understanding the physiological risks associated with these trends is essential for safety and prevention.
Key Facts
- Chemical and Thermal Burns: Trends like the deodorant, fire, and salt and ice challenges cause direct damage to the skin.
- Respiratory Risks: Inhaling aerosols can lead to asphyxia, a condition where the body is deprived of oxygen.
- Permanent Damage: Tooth filing can destroy enamel, while the eraser challenge can leave permanent scars.
- Physical Trauma: The Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge can cause bruising, disfiguration, or cuts from shattered glass.
- Low-Risk Trends: Some challenges, such as the Yoga Challenge, are primarily focused on humor and lack inherent chemical or thermal danger.
Dangerous Physical Challenges
Many viral trends involve the misuse of household items to create physical sensations or visual effects, often resulting in medical emergencies.
Chemical and Friction-Based Injuries
The Deodorant Challenge involves spraying deodorant directly onto bare skin, which can cause aerosol burns, or inhaling the product to achieve a high. The latter is particularly dangerous as it can lead to asphyxia. Similarly, the Eraser Challenge involves rubbing an eraser against the skin with extreme force while reciting the alphabet. This action creates friction burns that can lead to scarring and increase the risk of infection.
Thermal and Chemical Reactions
The Fire Challenge involves applying flammable liquids to the body and igniting them for video recordings. A 2021 TikTok variation involves drawing shapes on the skin with flammable substances, such as alcohol, and lighting them. Both versions have been condemned by police and firefighters due to the high risk of severe burns.
The Salt and Ice Challenge uses a chemical reaction to create an intense burning sensation. Participants place ice on salt applied to their skin, usually the arm, and attempt to withstand the pain. This process frequently results in actual burns.
Cosmetic and Dental Risks
Some challenges target aesthetic goals but utilize methods that can cause long-term anatomical damage.
Lip and Facial Alterations
The Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge attempts to mimic full lips by using a small vessel, such as a shot glass, to create a vacuum over the lips. This draws blood into the area to create a temporary puffiness. However, this can lead to bruising, lip disfiguration, and the risk of the glass shattering and causing cuts.
Dental Modification
The Tooth Filing Challenge on TikTok involves using nail or cuticle files to smooth or level the teeth. Dental professionals warn that this destroys the enamel layer—the hard protective outer shell of the tooth—which significantly increases the risk of cavities and tooth fractures.
Humorous and Low-Risk Trends
Not all challenges are designed to be harmful. The Yoga Challenge, which gained significant popularity in the summer of 2014, involves amateurs attempting complex acroyoga poses found online. Unlike the dangerous trends mentioned above, the appeal of this challenge is the humor derived from the contrast between professional poses and the awkward failures of untrained participants.
This trend was popularized by YouTubers like Alfie Deyes in June 2014 and the channel BFvsGF, drawing inspiration from earlier "yoga fail" and "couples' stunts" videos from 2012, as well as fitness vlogging trends from the mid-2000s.
Summary of Challenge Risks
| Challenge Name | Primary Action | Potential Health Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Deodorant Challenge | Spraying/Inhaling aerosol | Aerosol burns, asphyxia |
| Eraser Challenge | Forceful rubbing | Friction burns, scarring, infection |
| Fire Challenge | Igniting flammable liquids | Severe thermal burns |
| Salt and Ice Challenge | Ice on salt application | Chemical/Thermal burns |
| Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge | Vacuum suction via vessel | Bruising, disfiguration, cuts |
| Tooth Filing Challenge | Filing teeth with nail files | Enamel loss, cavities, fractures |
| Yoga Challenge | Attempting acroyoga poses | Minor falls, awkward stances |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is asphyxia in the context of the deodorant challenge?
Asphyxia is a condition where the body is deprived of oxygen, which can occur when individuals directly inhale deodorant aerosols to achieve a high.
Why is filing teeth with a nail file dangerous?
Filing teeth removes the enamel, which is the protective outer layer. Without this layer, teeth are much more susceptible to cavities and structural fractures.
How does the salt and ice challenge cause burns?
The combination of salt and ice creates a reaction that produces a burning sensation and can cause actual skin burns if the mixture is held against the body.
What are the risks of the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge?
The primary risks include bruising and disfiguration of the lips due to suction, as well as the danger of the glass vessel shattering and cutting the user.
Is the Yoga Challenge considered dangerous?
Generally, no. While it can result in falling down or awkward positions, it is primarily a humorous trend based on the failure to perform professional acroyoga poses.