The challenge of social media is appealing to teens who are impulsive and drawn to attention-seeking behavior.
Social media challenges like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and the Mannequin Challenge are fun and positive activities. However, other challenges that appear on the internet are dangerous and can lead to lasting harm.
You may have heard of viral social media trends like the Tide Pod Challenge, the Chalking Game or “Blackout” Challenge, the Benadryl Challenge, and the One Chip Challenge. Or, there was another attempt to cook chicken in NyQuil (the Sleepy Chicken Challenge), which prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to warn about the dangers of drug misuse.
These trending social media challenges can cause serious injuries, poisoning, and even be fatal. It’s important for all parents to be aware of these challenges and understand why they tempt teens.
Why are teens drawn to social media challenges?
Teenagers’ brains are still developing. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that deals with rational thinking, doesn’t fully develop until your mid-20s. This means that teenagers are more impulsive by nature and are more likely to act before considering all the ramifications.
The role of social media – rewarding outrageous behavior
Social media rewards outrageous behavior, and the more outrageous the more bragging rights. It’s a fast-paced, impulsive environment, and the fear of loss is real for teens. Such an environment affects teenagers’ underdeveloped ability to think through their actions and possible consequences.
Children don’t necessarily have to think that laundry detergent is a poison that can burn their throats and damage their airways. Or that misuse of drugs like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and similar drugs can cause serious heart disease, seizures, and comas. What they notice is that the popular person in the class did this and got hundreds of likes and comments.
The role of parents – nurturing a better brain
As a parent, you can help your teen build intellectual muscle. Here’s how:
- How to start a conversation, ask kids about the biggest challenges they’ve heard in their circle of friends. Encourage them to see if they can surprise you. Ask them (in a non-judgmental way) what they think about this assignment. This helps build risk judgment skills by discussing what happens to those who take the challenge. You can also exercise parental options, such as limiting contact with certain children or banning certain activities.
- If your child seems interested in taking part in the challenge., use open-ended questions to prompt them to think about each step of the assignment. Ask them to think about the worst possible outcome. Ask them to think about why they’re doing it and whether it’s worth it. Are likes and comments worth spending hours in the emergency room?
- Be sure to “friend” your children on social media. Staying in touch with them on their preferred communication platform will help you understand what’s going on in their daily lives. Look at their stories to find hints about what’s going on at school and with friends. Tell your kids that if you pay for the device and wireless network, they need to be friends with you in return. We also recommend creating a family media plan.
- Sometimes children want to talk about their friends than ourselves. Asking questions about school trends, friends, and trends may get more answers than asking directly about your own activities. No matter what, it’s important to keep communication open and non-judgmental. Instead, calmly discuss the risks of that choice.
Egg-breaking challenge and other prank posting trends
Another way you, as a parent, can help your children recognize the dangerous challenges of social media is by becoming a positive digital role model. Avoid social media trends like the egg-breaking challenge where you play “pranks” on kids and post their reactions online. Breaking an egg over an unsuspecting child’s head may not cause any physical damage, but it can hurt both physically and emotionally. Hurting your child for laughs can undermine the sense of security and trust they have in you. Having a platform that can be viewed around the world for years to come could further erode trust and amplify feelings of humiliation.
Remember
As children and teens continue to grow and learn about life, friends, and their place in the world, remember that their brains are still rapidly developing. As a parent, you can foster that growth and help your teen develop thoughtful and rational thinking, skills that will remain important for years to come.
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The information contained on this website should not be used as a substitute for your pediatrician’s treatment or advice. The treatment recommended by your pediatrician may vary depending on your individual facts and circumstances.