For me, the internet is a magical place. One where I can learn to cook just about anything, prepare for job interviews, study, connect with people from all over the world, and so much more. The world wide web is also a place where sensational videos are posted and can spread like wildfire. We’ve all seen the infamous Sweet Brown news report which was followed by a successful autotune remix video. Millions of people found that intriguing and the bronchitis-having woman found time to make national news all while making us laugh.
Simply put, we live in a time where viral videos can catapult people to fame. Somewhere along the way someone decided to make a video doing something abnormal and challenged others to do it as well. The first video of this nature I recall seeing is the cinnamon challenge and over the past few years, these internet challenges and dares have become even more intense and extremely popular amongst internet users looking for laughs. Check out the video below of a YouTube user completing several challenges, many of which he acknowledges are unsafe and suggests viewers not try at home.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/Cb91H3zAhGY]
As you can see, this man not only puts salt and ice on tongue to create a burn, but he sets his hand on fire with hand sanitizer (others have set other parts of their bodies on fire), sticks a noodle up his nose, and even mentions a “condom challenge” he has performed before. With this video gaining over 200,000 views, it’s no surprise that others would decide to make similar videos.
It seems like people these days are motivated by likes and views so they’ll post the most ridiculous content. This morning I saw a really disturbing video on Facebook documenting a “hot water challenge” and that’s what prompted this post. The young girl likely heard of this challenge online and decided to put her own spin on things when she boiled a pot of water and flung it on her brother as a joke. Check out the video below:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=648525175216758&set=vb.100001778451352&type=2&theater
Not only is it sad that this young lady didn’t realize hot water and boiling water drastically differ in temperature, but her brother will have that burn on his back for a very long time. This vicious attack was intended to be a fun prank and that’s why I ask if internet challenges have gone too far? The general public will like, share and laugh at these videos inspiring more and more people to take part in them. Whether it’s the snow challenge where nearly naked people go lay in snow while having a friend record it or the banana and sprite challenge that does God knows what to your stomach, I say enough is enough. It’s up to us as a general public to decide what content goes viral by being more selective in what we share and find funny.
I have a new challenge. I challenge you to be mindful of what you post, share, and find funny on the internet. If you see someone doing something unsafe or unwise, try letting them know as opposed to increasing their popularity by sharing it with your network.
What are your thoughts about internet challenges? Have they gone too far?