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Have you ever heard the phrase, “That’s enough internet for the day?” Sometimes, I encounter these internet challenges and trends, and I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief. Are people that desperate for attention? It still blows my mind that some of these incidents are real, and authorities had to beg people to stop doing them.
1. Nyquil Chicken
What kind of sick, twisted individual would come up with a challenge as disgusting as this? The challenge was simple: take a bottle of sleep-inducing cough syrup and boil a chicken in it. People were stupid enough to try it, and guess what? Not only did it taste repulsive, but it also sent people to the hospital. Overdoses of this kind of medication can cause hallucinations, breathing issues, and even death. Thankfully, the internet was smart enough to let this challenge die off.
2. Planking
While this trend is not gross or necessarily dangerous, it’s still pretty stupid. What started as a silly fad where people lay flat on their stomachs in various places became dangerous when people started planking in areas where they could get hurt. Planking off a cliff or high on a balcony resulted in deaths as people looked for a funny Facebook picture. The fatalities quickly ended this little fad.
3. The Milk Crate Challenge
Who would have thought stacking plastic milk crates 10 feet high and then attempting to climb them would result in injury? People lost their minds from the pandemic because, in 2021, videos of people tearing ACLs and cracking femurs went viral as they fell from these milk-crate pyramids. Whatever happened to riding a bike or playing on the swings for a good time?
4. The Milk Gallon Challenge
Speaking of milk, drinking a gallon of milk in under an hour was a widespread challenge in the early 2000s. The rumor was the human body couldn’t handle that much dairy in one sitting, so every confident man or woman had to prove otherwise. The result was mostly a lot of people throwing up all over themselves. We need more challenges like these. No one dies, and we get to laugh at our idiot friend while he makes himself sick.
5. The Cinnamon Challenge
Have you ever loved a spice so much that you wanted to swallow an entire teaspoon? From 2007 to about 2012, college kids from all over the country tried to get a spoonful of cinnamon down their throats. The result was primarily people turning into cinnamon-spitting dragons due to the spice coating their mouths, making it nearly impossible to swallow. It was more funny than dangerous, but it still came with a choking hazard and the inability to taste anything but cinnamon for a few days.
6. The Bird Box Challenge
The 2018 Netflix movie starring Sandra Bullock set the stage for this stupid internet challenge. The movie’s plot involves the characters being blindfolded, so naturally, the internet followed suit. People were seen walking around in public while blindfolded. The challenge gained notoriety when people began walking into oncoming traffic, construction zones, and dangerous terrain. Maybe the idea of looking where you’re going is better than getting run over by a bus for Instagram likes.
7. Trash Bag Challenge
Whoever thought about jumping in a plastic trash bag and sucking the air out of it had too much free time on their hands. The result left the plastic skin tight against the person’s body, which was funny, but for only a brief second. The sad part is parents started putting their children in the bags, not knowing it could cause a lack of oxygen to the brain.
8. Shell on Challenge
Here is another example of those deserving of the Darwin Award. In 2019, there was a trend where people were eating food with the outer shells and rinds on. Oranges, bananas, and eggs were being eaten and disgested for internet fame. The trend continued to push the boundaries when people began eating plastic and cardboard food containers. Doctors had to issue statements urging people to refrain from eating cardboard. I’ll say that again. Doctors had to urge people to stop eating cardboard.
9. Lip Glue Challenge
Avoid collagen implants and grab some super glue from the hardware store for those looking to get fuller lips. Apparently, gluing your lip to the skin below your nostrils gives the same look for fuller lips.
10. The Choking Challenge
The concept of this challenge has been around for years but usually involves more, ahem, adult activities. The idea is simple. Choke or have someone choke you for a short time, depriving your brain of oxygen. The resulting rush of oxygen gives the person a brief experience of euphoria. This is a deadly game, and the challenge made news when an Indian boy died playing the game in 2019.
11. The Salt and Ice Challenge
This is an older trend that went viral quickly but thankfully disappeared. The act involved a person putting salt on their body and then an ice cube on top. The chemical reaction caused a painful burn. Doctors had to warn people this could cause serious burns and scarring that could result in the need for skin grafts. Most people chose not to mutilate themselves, and the challenge died out.
12. Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge
A second challenge also involves aspirations of having fuller lips. In this challenge, participants suck a cup against their lips to form a vacuum seal, resulting in the lips swelling. This sounds reasonable, but the act can also break blood vessels, crack lips, and cause scarring and discoloration on the face. Ladies, leave your lips alone; you’re beautiful just as you are.
13. The Warheads Challenge
Once again, another simple, fun challenge has horrible side effects. Trying to fit as many sour candies in your mouth as possible starts as an innocent stunt. But the acids in those candies can cause blisters and tongue swelling. It’s all fun and games until you start losing skin over it.
14. The Tide Pod Challenge
I was honestly at a loss for words when this challenge went viral in 2017. People were so stupid and desperate for attention that they decided it was smart to eat laundry detergent. Of course, they got sick and had to go to the hospital. I guarantee the CEO of Tide never thought in his wildest dreams he would have to issue a statement discouraging people from eating his product.
15. The Fire Challenge
I had difficulty deciding which challenge was more idiotic, the fire or the Tide pod challenge. Eventually, I decided lighting yourself on fire was the dumbest trend I had ever heard of. Sadly, many young adults suffered severe burns due to rubbing alcohol on their bodies and setting a match to it. If these people are going to be running the country someday, the future doesn’t look too bright.
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