Risky Social Media Challenges: What Parents and Caregivers Should Know

Social media challenges are activities people do to copy content seen on social media, sometimes “challenging” others to do the activity too, like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. While some challenges may be harmless, some can encourage people to do risky activities that result in injuries like burns, lung problems, head injuries, or even death. Kids and teens may especially feel pressure to join challenges to get likes, views, or approval from friends. They may not understand the risks or believe that serious harm could happen to them.

What does the research show?

• Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital reviewed more than 20 years of studies on risky social media challenges. Most of the research has been published in the last decade: as social media use has grown, so has this concern.
• The studies found that many risky challenges have been recognized as causing injury and death, but very little research has focused on how to prevent harm.
• Families, schools, health professionals, and social media companies all have a role to play in keeping kids safe.

How can parents help keep their kids safe from social media challenges?

Be aware of challenge trends. Social media trends can change quickly, and not all of them are easy to spot. Some challenges may look harmless at first but evolve to include unsafe actions that can lead to injury.

Parents and caregivers should watch for warning signs such as:

• Sudden interest in dangerous stunts or dares
• Increased secrecy around phone or social media use
• Unexplained injuries or physical symptoms

These signs do not always mean a child is taking part in a challenge, but they can open the door for a conversation.

Talk to your kids about risky social media challenges. Open and calm conversations help kids and teens feel safe sharing what they see online. Many young people are aware of risky content, even if they are not participating in challenges.

Helpful tips include:

• Ask open-ended questions about what they are seeing online
• Roleplay with your child so they can practice responding to a friend who is pressuring them to do a challenge
• Talk about how videos may not show the full story or consequences
• Remind kids and teens that likes and views are not worth getting hurt
• Encourage them to come to a trusted adult if they feel pressured

Develop a family media plan. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed a family digital media plan to help families set clear expectations around screen time and online behavior. It is important for parents to also model healthy digital media use.

Your family’s plan can include:

• Time limits for social media use
• Rules about what types of content are okay to watch or share
• Guidelines for privacy and respectful online behavior
• A plan for getting help when something feels wrong

Together, we can make a difference. By staying informed and having open conversations, we can protect our kids and teens from dangerous trends and help them navigate social media safely.