(HealthyResearch.com) – The challenge is real, and the threat is one every parent or guardian should be aware of. Teenagers are daring one another to perform outrageous and dangerous stunts on the video-sharing platform TikTok, with terrifying results. One of the most recent challenges has already sent three teenagers to the hospital. We have the details.
The Benadryl Challenge
That’s right — common, run-of-the-mill Benadryl. Many of us use this popular antihistamine to reduce the severity of allergies or for occasional help falling asleep. Few people would consider taking several times the recommended dosage on purpose.
And, very likely, few people ever would have if it hadn’t been for a new viral TikTok “challenge”. It dares teens to take dangerous amounts of the non-prescription medicine with the intention of hallucinating. According to Medical News Today, Benadryl overdoses can indeed cause hallucinations — along with confusion, heart arrhythmia, restlessness and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, too much of this medication can even lead to seizures, coma and death.
According to a recent Health report, the “Benadryl challenge” has already sent three teens to the hospital.
A Dark Ploy?
This isn’t the first TikTok challenge to have left teenagers seriously hurt. NBC Miami reported on another recent TikTok phenomenon, the “skullbreaker challenge,” which has also done its share of damage. This one dares teens to pair up and trick a third to jump into the air, at which point they kick the feet out from under their victim, causing the person to land hard on their backside. Some kids have literally cracked their skulls because of this “game.” And remember the Tide Pod Challenge? That was TikTok, too.
Recent investigations into the company have uncovered some other concerning info. An Inc. article shared warnings that TikTok may be funneling users’ personal information to the Chinese government. According to Business Insider, this issue is so potentially serious that members of all US armed forces branches have been advised against having the app on any of their devices.
Should the rest of us consider following suit? Really, it may be time that we take a good, hard look at all the apps we take for granted as safe. It’s obvious some are far from having their users’ best interests at heart — and some could even be targeting our children.
Social media has a lot of greatness to share, but it also has its dark side. Parents and guardians need to stay a step ahead of the insanity, and part of that is educating children on the dangers that lurk just beyond the tablet screen. In this case, a little vigilance could spare loved ones a lot of pain.
~Here’s to Your Health & Safety!
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