From sculp breakers to mouth taping...10 most dangerous TikTok trends

Social media has always amplified peer pressure and other mental issues such as anxiety and depression. However, trends have become bolder by the day, and more dangerous to TikTok users, mostly teenagers and youths. 

Here are some of the most bizarre social media trends;

MOUTH TAPING

This is a trend that induces one to tape their mouths shut before going to bed, forcing them to breathe through their nose and supposedly prevent them from snoring. Many influencers claimed reaping benefits from it. They say they experience improved dry mouth and bad breath, snoring, moisturize and soothe sore throats, trap and filter out allergens in the air and more. 

Like all other trends, no one stops to think if this is something that any medical officer will approve, and think of the consequences instead of assuming benefits of it. 

The don’t stop to think how uncomfortable it is, how it can cause anxiety from fear of suffocation, how it can make it hard for one to fall and stay asleep, how it can cause a skin irritation on the lips, or even difficulty breathing. 

THE BLACKOUT

This stunt involves depriving oneself of oxygen to a point of near unconsciousness to attain the feeling of getting high without using drugs. Crazy as it may sound, many participated in this stunt. All for what, a few likes? A few followers? Some attention? 

This challenge has been circling the net under different guises, ‘the choking game’ or the pass-out challenge are what users identified it with, intentionally cutting off oxygen. We are not only talking about it being dangerous, but depriving your brain of oxygen can cause permanent damages inclusive of  seizures, brain injury and possible death.  So why risk it?

HOT PEPPER CHALLENGE

Have you ever scrolled your feed and there is that one video of a person with over a million likes eating huge amount of pepper? Whether its stupid or daring, don’t even think about it. 

Eating food with pepper is one thing, but a plate laden with fiery pepper and chillies that measures over two million Scoville units? This challenge exposes one to severe health factors including damage to the stomach, liver and kidneys. It can further lead to brain toxicity. 

CHROMING 

Chroming is another activity that involves deliberately inhaling toxic fumes from household products to achieve a temporary high. In other words, this is participating in an activity that any sane person would call ‘stupid’. 

No offence. Of course, fume inhalation has existed for centuries, though inaccessible to minors. But to think that one can get high from things like nail polish? 

Normal household products such as nail polish remover, paint thinners, glues and correction fluids, gasoline or lighter fluids and aerosol sprays are easily attainable from shops and stores and at a cheap price too. Not only are they accessible, but they expose the users to possible addiction and an open mind to try new things, abusing more substances, and in time, find themselves entangled in drugs with no idea how they started it in the first place.

 Even a brief use of it, it can still cause seizures, dizziness, euphoria, and a possible immediate heart failure caused by the heart being overly sensitive to adrenaline, which can be triggered even for a first timer. 

MILK CRATE CHALLENGE

As innocent as it may sound, this is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous trends that had the hospitals full. This particular trend involves stacking milk crates as high as possible, and one climbs them to reach as high as they possibly can. 

Remember, the crates are not supported by anything stable, just themselves and can all come tumbling down with a single wrong step. This trend sent many young participants to the hospital with broken bones and other sustained injuries. Of course, the young and dumb eager youths continued to participate in this hazardous trend despite witnessing the risks of it from their fellow peers who took the fall. 

BENADRYL TABLETS

Benadryl tablets are an antihistamine drug that treats itchiness and other allergies. Normally, the recommended adult dose is no more than 6 tablets in a period of 24 hours.  

This challenge, however, demands one to take 12 to 14 Benadryl tablets to induce hallucinations. This challenge encourages users to thoughtlessly abuse the over-the-counter allergy medications to incite hallucinations. Many participated at the risk of respiratory failure, seizures, coma and potentially permanent brain damage. 

THE FIRE CHALLENGE

Yes. It is exactly what you are thinking. Participants apply a flammable liquid to a part of their body and set it on fire, then extinguish it after burning for a few seconds. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Just light yourself ablaze, then extinguish it. 

There is a high possibility for someone to freak out and run away in panic, forgetting to douse the flame first, allowing the oxygen to catalyse it and the flame to ignite even more. One may walk out of it with second-degree burns or even more severe scalding. 

THE SKULL-BREAKER

This stunt truly can cause someone to crack their skull open. It involves a participant having their legs kicked from under them while jumping by two others, causing them to flip and fall over. This challenge comes with a whole gift bag of fatalities, including traumatic brain injuries, concussions, skull fractures, loss of consciousness and paralysis. 

THE DRAGON’S BREATH CHALLENGE

This hazardous stunt involves eating a snack coated with liquid nitrogen and exhale the vapor produced by the extreme cold, giving the appearance of a dragon breathing fire. This deadly trend hospitalized many with severe burns, breathing difficulties and other issues such as food poisoning. As cool as it may sound, its not really worth the risk. 

CINNAMON CHALLENGE

It started as a joke, but quickly escalated to being something serious. We all like cinnamon in our cakes and pastries. However, dry cinnamon with absolutely nothing? That’s a no for me. 

This particular stunt involves the participant eating a certain amount of dry cinnamon and swallow it without any water to wash it down. This stunt ha immediate effects like choking, burning and irritations, an possible breathing difficulties. It also comes along with a whole package of complications inclusive of liver damage, lung inflammation and scarring, and collapsed lungs in severe cases. 

I don’t know who needs to read this, but you are a human, not a cat. You do not have nine lives. These trends look fun, even beneficial in your social standing. But make sure to think them through before participating in those crazy stunts. Be careful of the hidden dangers lurking beneath them. It’s not worth the risk.