Over the years, many different social media trends have come and go. Most social media trends tend to target teens and children because they are more likely to try these trends. After all in this day and age if you do what the “cool kids do” then that makes you a “cool kid” but in reality, it doesn’t. Some trends have been known for the awareness and cause, for instance, the Ice Bucket Challenge. This challenge was raising awareness for the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or known as motor neuron disease. The hope was that people would donate money to help those who suffer this disease.

Some of the most dangerous trends/challenges include the pass-out or choking challenge, the cinnamon challenge, the salt and ice challenge, the deodorant challenge, and the tide pod challenge. Maybe you’ve heard of some of these trends but do you really know the cost? Many kids and teens have either suffered injuries or have died from some of these trends that may come off as silly or non-threatening but they truly are, some more than others. Most don’t realize the severity of the situation until it’s too late.

• Report Outlines Dangers of “Cinnamon Challenge” – Partnership to End Addiction (drugfree.org)
• The Dangers of the Choking Game and Pass-Out Challenge | Time
• Why you shouldn’t take the salt and ice challenge (sunnybrook.ca)
• The ‘Deodorant Challenge’ Leaves Teen With Severe Burns | Time
• Don’t try the Tide Pod Challenge, despite the memes. But it’s not weird to want to. – Vox

These are just a few websites to provide examples about some of the dangerous social media trends and how they’ve negatively affected people. However, some good trends are made more known by social media. One example I already said is the Ice Bucket Challenge. Another one is the Hipster challenge, for this challenge you are supposed to dress up like a “hippy” (goofy-looking glasses, scarf, skinny jeans, insane hat, colorful things, etc), then you go out in public for 8 hours or donate $100 to help the more than 218 million children involved in child labor. Close to 22,000 die due to work-related accidents every year. A more common one seen a lot on Tiktok is the “I’m Yours” challenge. You are supposed to record yourself creatively singing these lyrics from the song “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz, “I’ve been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror…but my breath fogged up the glass, so I drew a new face and I laughed”. Then try to get people to watch the video 10 or more times or donate $100 to help stop animal cruelty and give those animals a better chance at life.