Viral Videos, Deadly Consequences: The Dangers of Online Addict

Nowadays, social media challenges are turning into life-risking tasks. Many people around the world died for the sake of likes following the ridiculous online challenges.

While social media provides a platform for creativity and connection, its darker side reveals a reality, the purpose of online fame can lead to irreversible tragedy.

Rise of Dangerous Social Media Challenges:

Social media challenges have evolved from harmless fun to dangerous stunts, claiming lives in search of likes and fame. Influencers, leveraging their massive followings, face a life-threatening risk for popularity while some responsibly promote content, others chase risky trends for fleeting online recognition.

Here are some of the Social media challenges that ended the people's life,

• Mukbang Challenge
• Driving Challenge
• Blackout Challenge

Mukbang Challenge:

Among the most alarming trends is the Mukbang Challenge, where individuals binge on excessive amounts of unhealthy food in single sittings.

Recently (July 2024), a tragic incident involving a Chinese food blogger has sparked widespread concern. The blogger, Pan Xiaoting, lost her life while participating in the viral Mukbang Challenge, Xiaoting was known for enduring these challenges, sometimes eating up to 10 kg of food in a single session lasting over 10 hours.

Despite warnings from her loved ones and concerns raised by health professionals, Xiaoting persisted with these extreme eating challenges. In the aftermath of her passing, her autopsy revealed severe stomach deformation and the presence of undigested food, highlighting the strain her body endured.

Driving Challenge:

This challenge affects not only the participant but also other innocent people in the surroundings. The person is challenged to drive the car for a set amount of time.

Another devasting incident happened in mid-July 2023,  where a tragic collision claimed the life of a five-year-old boy and left his mother and three-year-old sister critically injured.

The accident occurred in Casal Palocco, Rome, when their car was struck by a luxury SUV. Investigators revealed that the SUV was driven by five young people in their 20s participating in a viral online challenge to drive continuously for 50 hours.

The five individuals involved had gained popularity through social media, where they shared videos of themselves performing various challenges, including dangerous driving stunts.

Blackout Challenge:

The infamous "Blackout Challenge," popularized on TikTok in 2021, dangerously involved participants attempting to deprive themselves of oxygen by holding their breath for extended periods.

This reckless trend, despite similar challenges existing since the 1990s, tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 20 children, many of whom were 12 years old or younger.

Addiction To Challenge:

Other than this, the viral Blackwhale and Momo challenges have ignited widespread media attention. However, numerous other challenges fail to capture public attention.

Due to the potential risks involved, participants in online challenges must exercise caution, especially children and teenagers. Even adults can become addicted to the allure of social sensation, often overlooking the risks associated with these challenges.

While game addiction and its associated fatalities were once the primary online concern, the current trend of viral challenges has sparked anxiety among parents of teenagers.

Risks of Posing for Social Media:

There are numerous deaths have occurred due to individuals posing for pictures and videos, often in quest of stunning visuals without considering the associated dangers.

This phenomenon is particularly notable among travel vloggers who prioritize creating a cinematic experience over disclosing their destinations' true challenges and dangers. Even celebratory occasions like weddings have turned tragic when couples opt for photoshoots in risky locations like water bodies. Some other cases, where photos were taken on active train tracks or near stormy oceans, have ended in death.

Recently, Aanvi Kamdar, a 27-year-old Mumbai influencer known as The Local Journal on Instagram, tragically passed away after falling into a 300 ft gorge near Kumbhe waterfall in Raigad district, Maharashtra.

Kamdar slipped into a crevice while recording a video during the outing. She shared content about travel, luxury discoveries, cafes, itineraries, tips, and her personal experiences for 257,000 followers.

Movie Imitation:

Many inspired by cinematic experiences, the younger generation sometimes mimics these casually walking in risky areas without proper precautions, leading to devastating consequences. Unlike movies where extensive safety protocols are in place, the lacks of safety risk their lives chasing viral-worthy shots.

Awareness:

These tragic events underline the risks associated with viral challenges that prioritize social media fame over safety, provoking calls for more significant awareness among the people and regulation to prevent further senseless deaths.

Educating both young people and adults about the potential consequences of participating in such challenges is essential for their safety and well-being.

Parents, teachers, and community leaders play a vital role in promoting awareness among the next generation, and teaching them about virtue and the importance of life may benefit them.