1 Benadryl Challenge
This dangerous trend involved consuming excessive amounts of the allergy medication Benadryl to induce hallucinations. Unfortunately, the high dosages led to serious health complications including heart problems, seizures, and in some cases, death. The challenge garnered attention for its severe medical consequences.
2 Ice Bucket Challenge
Originally intended to promote awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), participants would dump a bucket of ice water over themselves. While the challenge had charitable intentions, there were isolated incidents where individuals sustained fatal injuries due to the improper handling of the heavy ice water containers or undertaking the challenge in unsafe environments.
3 Hot Water Challenge
This perilous trend involved pouring boiling water on oneself or another person, or drinking it through a straw. The scalding water caused severe burns and injuries, leading to hospitalizations and, in some tragic cases, fatalities. The challenge was widely condemned for its obvious dangers. The hot water caused severe burns and injuries.
4 Blackout Challenge
Also known as the "Choking Game," this challenge involves cutting off oxygen to the brain to achieve a high, often using nooses or similar tools. It has led to numerous accidental deaths due to asphyxiation, highlighting the extreme risks associated with oxygen deprivation.
5 Chroming Challenge
In this hazardous activity, individuals inhale fumes from aerosol sprays to achieve a high. This inhalation can lead to a lack of oxygen in the brain, causing serious health issues like brain damage and even death. The challenge is notorious for its abuse of household substances.
6 Happy Slapping Challenge
This disturbing trend involves assaulting someone, often a stranger, and recording the attack for online sharing. The assaults can range from mild slaps to serious physical violence, leading in some instances to grave injuries and fatalities. This challenge has been widely criticized for its encouragement of unprovoked violence. With luck, some of the individuals who attempt to do this to innocent people will make the mistake of targeting someone who is armed and will end up being the fatalities themselves.
7 Planking Challenge
Planking involves lying face down in unusual and sometimes dangerous locations, often photographed for social media. While mostly harmless, there have been instances where participants have fatally injured themselves by choosing extremely risky locations like balconies or high ledges. This challenge cost the lives of numerous people, such as an Australian who fell off a building while attempting this challenge.
8 Neknominating Challenge
This involves nominating friends to drink large quantities of alcohol in a short time, often combined with performing a dare. The challenge has resulted in alcohol poisoning and deaths due to the excessive and rapid consumption of alcohol.
9 One Chip Challenge
In this challenge, participants eat a tortilla chip coated with extremely spicy seasoning, often causing severe reactions. There have been instances of hospitalization due to respiratory and gastrointestinal distress, and in rare cases, it has been linked to fatalities, especially in individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
10 Blue Whale Challenge
It involved a series of 50 tasks over 50 consecutive days, requiring self-harm and suicide, based on the game of the same name.
The Contenders
11 Skull Breaker Challenge
It occurred when three people lined up. The person in the center jumped in the air, and the other two on the side kicked the jumper's legs from underneath. This was a trend on TikTok.
12 Car Surfing Challenge
This extremely dangerous activity involves riding on the exterior of a moving vehicle, imitating surfing. Numerous participants have suffered critical injuries or death from falling off the vehicle, often at high speeds, highlighting the extreme risk of this challenge.
13 Hot Pepper Challenge
It led to people eating peppers with high Scoville units, leading to nasty effects, especially in individuals with pre-existing conditions that could be fatal. There have been hospitalizations among these individuals. Peppers, like many things, are meant for healthy people.
14 Helium Challenge
While it seems funny to some to inhale helium (resulting in pitched-up voices), it leads to a lack of oxygen in the lungs and brain, increasing the risk of health complications including respiratory failure and fatalities.
15 Tide Pod Challenge
