Dangerous viral challenges: how to talk about them

Every so often, a "challenge" spreads online, sometimes harmless fun, sometimes genuinely dangerous: choking games, taking medicines, eating non-food items, risky stunts, pranks that can cause injury. Parents often hear about them through scary forwarded warnings.

Why kids try them

• Social reward: views, likes and attention
• Belonging: everyone else is doing it
• Curiosity and thrill-seeking, especially in teens
• Underestimating risk: "it looked fine in the video"
• Younger children may not understand that what they see could hurt them

Real or hoax?

Some viral "challenge" warnings turn out to be hoaxes or exaggerations. Before you panic or forward a warning:

• Check reliable news sources or fact-checkers.
• Notice whether the warning gives specific, credible details.
• Consider that forwarding scary warnings can make children curious about something they hadn't heard of.

Don't spread the details

When talking to your child about a specific dangerous challenge, don't show them videos or describe exactly how it's done. That can introduce it to children who'd never seen it. Talk about the general principle instead.

The conversation

Rather than warning about each new challenge, teach a general rule:

"If you see a video of someone doing something that could hurt them, don't copy it. People online don't show you when things go wrong. If friends are pressuring you to do one, tell me, and I'll help you get out of it."

Ask open questions:

• "Have you seen any challenges going around?"
• "What do your friends think about them?"
• "How do you decide if something is safe to try?"

Help them think before copying

Teach a few questions to ask:

1. Could this hurt me or someone else?
2. Would I do this if nobody was watching or filming?
3. What would happen if it went wrong?
4. Why does this person want me to do it?

Make it easy to say no

Give your child an easy out: "My parents check my phone" or "My mom would kill me" works well.

Report it

Platforms remove dangerous challenge content. Encourage your child to report videos that show dangerous stunts, especially if younger children could see them.

If your child has been hurt

If your child has taken something, been injured, or lost consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.