Internet challenges can be fun, motivating, and sometimes they even support a good cause. Just think of the ice buckets that flooded social media a few years ago. But alongside those, there are also challenges where the risk is built into the very core of the “task.” Many of them target teenagers, rely on peer pressure, and on the way short videos reward bold or extreme ideas. In this roundup, you’ll find the best-known “bizarre” challenges, an explanation of what happens in the body during them, and simple rules for spotting them and responding safely.
The Tide Pod challenge: why laundry pods are a problem
Laundry pods look tempting to small children—they’re colorful, gel-like, and resemble candy. But the concentrated cleaning agents are caustic and can cause burns to the mucous membranes, vomiting, breathing problems, and even altered consciousness. Health authorities have warned about the risk for years; a CDC analysis described cases of severe illness after contact with liquid from a pod and recommended keeping pods out of children’s sight and reach.
The “Blackout”/“Choking” challenge: a brief euphoric feeling can end in tragedy
The premise of this challenge is dangerous in itself: deliberately restricting oxygen flow to the brain in order to “pass out.” This kind of “game” isn’t new—in the pre-internet era, it was known as the “choking game.” Older epidemiological reviews documented dozens of deaths among adolescents and highlighted the risk of seizures, long-term neurological damage, or death. One basic fact always applies: neurons die quickly without oxygen, and the consequences are irreversible.
“NyQuil chicken” and other medication challenges (including the “Benadryl challenge”)
Videos encouraging people to cook food in cough syrup or take high doses of over-the-counter antihistamines are textbook examples of dangerous content. The FDA explains that heating medicines can change their composition, increase the concentration of active ingredients, and expose a person to poisoning—even from inhaling the fumes alone. With “pill” challenges, there’s also a risk of hallucinations, arrhythmias, and seizures. If the medication contains acetaminophen (paracetamol), acute liver damage is another serious risk. This isn’t a “funny” video—it’s real toxicology.
The “Milk Crate challenge”: the biomechanics of falls—not “just” bruises
Walking across an unstable pyramid of plastic crates often ends with a fall from height onto a hard surface. In a typical slip, the participant falls backward without control and with a strong rotational component—an easy recipe for broken wrists, rib fractures, or head and spine injuries. Doctors therefore warned that the risk is comparable to falling off a ladder, just without any protection. (You’ll find an explanatory video below.)
The “Skull Breaker challenge”: a hidden trap involving three participants
In this challenge, two people “subtly” sweep a third person’s legs out during a jump. Landing unprepared means a risk of concussion, spinal injuries, and long-term consequences. From a safety standpoint, the main problem is that the “victim” often doesn’t know they’re about to be tripped—so they have no chance to protect themselves.
When a challenge helps: the Ice Bucket Challenge as a positive contrast
Not all viral challenges are bad. The Ice Bucket Challenge was a simple, relatively safe idea that also encouraged donations for ALS research. According to the ALS Association, in 2014 it generated donations in the U.S. totaling roughly €100 million (converted from the reported $115 million) and significantly advanced both research and patient care. A meaningful task design, a clear goal, and no inherent health risk—that’s a combination that works without endangering anyone’s health.
Why people fall for it: algorithms, peer pressure, and “instant rewards”
The snackable format of short videos gives the biggest payoff to content that’s surprising, extreme, and highly shareable. Young people are also more sensitive to social rewards—likes and comments. Add a dare from friends and the feeling that “everyone’s doing it,” and the risk gets minimized. In reality, the unusual or shock factor often signals that the task is designed at the edge of safety—or beyond it.
How to spot a risky challenge (and what to do when you come across one)
Warning signs include anything with a medication name, choking, chemicals, fire, or balancing on makeshift structures. If a challenge involves pain, being unable to breathe normally, a “secret” trip, disconnecting from reality with drugs or alcohol, or takes place where there’s a risk of falling on your head, that’s a major red flag. Parents and teachers should talk with kids before they run into a viral challenge—name the risks, remind them that videos are often edited, and that “no consequences” exists only on screen. Most importantly: if someone is coughing, choking, dizzy, hallucinating, or has hit their head after a challenge, don’t gamble—call emergency help immediately (in Slovakia: 155 or 112).
Videos on the topic (paste the URL as a separate line—WordPress will auto-embed it)
Why “NyQuil chicken” is dangerous – a report on the FDA warning
Ice Bucket Challenge – official ALS Association video
“Milk Crate challenge” – news coverage and doctors’ warnings
Explaining the risks of the “Cinnamon challenge” (SciShow)
Conclusion: internet challenges don’t have to be bad—but the line is thin
The internet loves ideas you can copy in a few seconds. But if the “how-to” relies on chemicals, choking, medicines, or deliberately inducing a fall, it’s not entertainment—it’s gambling with your health. Challenges with a purpose—charity ones, for example—work far better, especially when they’re designed in a way that doesn’t expose anyone to unnecessary risk. By sharing safer alternatives and having open conversations with kids and teens, we can do a lot to keep viral trends from ending in the ER.
Sources
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration – A Recipe for Danger: Social Media Challenges Involving Medicines – https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/recipe-danger-social-media-challenges-involving-medicines (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- CDC – Unintentional Strangulation Deaths from the “Choking Game” – https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5706a1.htm (cdc.gov)
- CDC – Health Hazards Associated with Laundry Detergent Pods – https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6141a1.htm (PDF: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6141.pdf) (cdc.gov)
- ALS Association – The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (impact and donation figures) – https://www.als.org/ibc (The ALS Association)
Jana
I like turning curiosity into words, and writing articles is my way of capturing ideas before they slip away — and sharing them with anyone who feels like reading.
