Every year, new challenges spread across social media, promising fun, laughs, or a quick rush of excitement. Some are harmless, like dance trends or lip sync videos. Others, however, push people, especially kids and teens, toward choices that can end in serious harm.
Participants frequently underestimate the real-world risks associated with these fast-moving digital trends. Parents, teachers, and even police are struggling to keep up as new challenges appear faster than they can be stopped. What is especially worrisome is how some of these have led to burns, broken bones, brain damage, or worse.
This gallery breaks down some of the most dangerous internet challenges, what they involve, and the harm they have caused. Click through to find out more.