Unveiling the origins of harmful internet trends
Playing with Peril: Unraveling the Dark Side of Viral Challenges
Let's Talk About It, Shall We?
In a world where social media rules our daily lives, the consequences of certain trends can often be grim. As headlines flash with tragic stories, many point a finger at platforms, while others, such as media psychologist Benjamin P. Lange, suggest a different culprit.
Take the tale from Auckland at the end of May, where a simple, seemingly harmless competition ended in a fatality. Two young men ran head-on towards each other in a game infamously known as "Run-it-straight." The idea: whoever remained standing after the collision was the victor. "We implore everyone pondering participation in a game or event alike, to think about the substantial safety and injury risks," says Ross Grantham of the New Zealand police following the incident.
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The "Run-it-straight" challenge is merely one example of new dares fueled by social media that can end in death. The infamous Blackout Challenge, where participants choke themselves to the point of fainting, has claimed the lives of 15 to 20 individuals worldwide, primarily children between the ages of 8 and 14. A 13-year-old girl from the Kassel district was one such victim. The Cinnamon Challenge, where a spoonful of cinnamon powder is ingested without water, has resulted in fatalities, including a four-year-old boy from Kentucky in 2015. The Hot Chip Challenge, where spicy chips are consumed, has sent several teenagers to the hospital. Car surfing, where people balance on moving cars, has repeatedly led to fatal accidents.
Status, Attraction, and Evolutionary Edge
While many reports focus on incidents involving particularly young children, numerous studies and statistics reveal that a specific demographic is particularly susceptible to daredevil challenges: "Young men," notes media psychologist Benjamin P. Lange of the IU International University in an interview with ntv.de. "The competitive spirit, particularly among young men, is particularly fierce."
Even the aforementioned crosses along country roads, bearing male names and revealing birth and death dates with striking Similarities of 18, 19, or 20 years, illustrate this inclination, according to Lange. Lange speaks of "competitive aggression" prompted by the presence of competition: "I want to come out on top. The challenge is the same – it's about running towards each other, and whoever remains standing takes the victory." Ultimately, it's all about status, charm, and evolutionary benefits.
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Despite the fact that only one percent of the videos analyzed on TikTok by child protection organization KlickSafe show potentially deadly challenges, as per US statistics, 67 percent of teenagers questioned acknowledged seeing at least one dangerous online challenge in the past year. A study commissioned by TikTok itself in 2021 found that at least 0.3 percent of 10,000 teenagers surveyed admitted to participating in challenges they deemed "very dangerous." Given the estimated daily user base of almost a billion people, this figure no longer seems insignificant.
The finger of blame is often pointed at social media. In Germany, petitions are advocating for a ban on social media for individuals under 16, while Australia has already enacted such legislation. Teachers, parents, and experts caution about the risks, but the allure of the challenges remains.
The fascination with these behaviors is not new or a media phenomenon, asserts the psychologist: "There are cultures without our media offerings where young men still engage in bungee jumping, tying a rope around their ankles, and jumping somewhere. One in ten ends up in a wheelchair. They still do it." Now we have social media, and the dares go viral, taking on near-epidemic proportions.
A Ban Won't Solve the Problem
Competitions have long been a characteristic feature of young men, as exploited by social media, suggesting outrageous ideas. Another motive fueling participation in online challenges is ennui. "Young men do this foolishness because they are bored and require stimulation, particularly during periods of inactivity," opines the psychologist.
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A ban on social media is deemed ineffective by the psychologist: "Then it will only become more desirable among some young men. They'll pay even more attention: 'It's no longer available on TikTok, but I've found it somewhere else.'" The solution, he believes, lies in redirecting the natural impulse to compete towards regulated, preferably sporting activities: "That can also include martial arts, as long as it unfolds under controlled conditions, and someone ensures things don't escalate."
Source: ntv.de
- Social Media
- Internet Use
- Mental Health
- ParentingDangerous online challenges among young men often stem from psychological motivators such as the need for social acceptance, peer pressure, and validation. These challenges are amplified by social media platforms due to their competitive and addictive nature. The following key psychological drivers and recommendations for safer alternatives are provided:
Psychological Motivators Behind Dangerous Online Challenges
- Peer Pressure and Social Acceptance:
- Young men often feel a strong need to conform to social norms and gain acceptance from their peers.
- Peer pressure can make individuals more likely to engage in risky behaviors, particularly when they believe that others are doing so as well.
- Validation and Popularity:
- The thirst for online validation can drive young men to participate in dangerous challenges. This desire is often fueled by a desire to gain fame or notoriety.
- Impulsivity and Lack of Awareness:
- Young men may not fully understand the risks involved in dangerous challenges due to impulsive decision-making and a lack of awareness about potential consequences.
- Altered states of consciousness may also play a role in promoting risk-taking behaviors, such as those that result from drug use or sleep deprivation.
Channelling Competing Impulses into Safer Activities
1. Encourage Participation in Team Sports and Physical Activities
- Encourage young men to engage in sports and physical activities that require cooperation and teamwork.
- These activities can provide a healthy outlet for competition and physical risk-taking while reducing the likelihood of potential harm.
2. Provide Opportunities for Creative Expression
- Encourage young men to express their creativity through various artistic mediums, such as drawing, painting, writing, or music.
- Providing safe opportunities for creative expression can provide a sense of accomplishment and validation without the need for engaging in dangerous challenges.
3. Foster Responsible Digital Citizenship
- Educate young men on digital citizenship and encourage responsible online behavior.
- Inform young people about the potential risks associated with social media platforms and the dangers of participating in dangerous online challenges.
4. Encourage Healthy Coping Mechanisms
- Help young men develop healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, anxiety, or emotional distress.
- Encourage positive outlets for coping, such as exercise, meditation, or therapy.
5. Develop Support Networks
- Encourage young men to build and maintain positive relationships with mentors, teachers, friends, and family members.
- Providing support networks can help reduce the allure of peer pressure and provide guidance on making responsible decisions.
- Health-and-wellness – Catering to the mental health of young men, it's crucial to inform them about the psychological drivers behind dangerous online challenges, such as peer pressure and the need for validation.
- Lifestyle – To divert the competitive spirit in a safer direction, parents and educators can encourage young men to participate in team sports, arts, and creative pursuits, as alternative outlets for expression and achievement.
- Science – Researching the impact of social media on young people, psychologists can assess how the competitive nature of platforms contributes to the popularity of dangerous online challenges and offer insights on how to mitigate their appeal.
