Social media has grown over the last couple of decades alone, cultivating new techniques and abilities to allow individuals to social network, promote, brand and sell. It has become a daily occurrence to check social media and perhaps even the norm to be an account user of at least one platform. Expanding from an Internet window to a phone application, social media has grown immensely to include platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, Snapchat, Tinder and Instagram.
As social media grows, the way it is utilized does as well. 2014’s viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a prime example. Millions used their social media to help spread awareness for a cause. In this case, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis- also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The challenge was to dump a bucket of ice water over one’s head and then nominate and challenge others to do the same within a twenty-four-hour window. If not accepted within that timeframe, the ‘challenged’ then generally donated money to the ALS Association.
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The goal behind the challenge was to raise awareness and encourage monetary support. A goal that, according to CNN, was accepted by more than 17 million people. $77 million dollars of the money funded through the Ice Bucket Challenge was donated to research, in which $1 million of the portion resulted in the scientific breakthrough discovery of the gene, NEK1, being responsible of contributing to the disease. The rest of the $115 million was distributed between ‘patient and community services,' 'public and professional education,’ ‘fundraising,’ and ‘eternal processing fees.'
Since then, challenges have gained momentum. In the past, before the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, they mostly circuited on YouTube. Now they have gained hashtag status, although not all are for a cause- some are just out of fun.
Recently, there have been two challenges that have been gaining attention. The first one is the 22 Pushup Challenge. This challenge is to honor those who serve and to raise awareness for veteran suicide prevention. Similar to 2014's viral challenge, this challenge has people do 22 pushups and then nominate and challenge others.
The second, however, is not one to raise awareness. It all starts off "fun" but quickly escalates into tragedy. It is known as the Choking Challenge and this challenge is particularly popular among adolescents.
To feel a high sensation, pre-teens and teens are strangling themselves, going as far as cutting off airflow to the point of passing out, and in some cases, even death. According to 13abc, studies show that 75% of children between the ages of 9 and 16 know how to play the choking game.
This particular game has been around for years, but now has recently came to the forefront. The choking game is also referred to as the fainting game, five minutes in heaven, blackout, pass out game, scarf game, space monkey, flat line game and the knockout challenge, among many others.
What is meant to be a game becomes sorrow as many are left questioning why.
Thousands of videos can be found online showing children choking themselves or even having a friend do it. Afterwards, they then challenge others.
Throughout this particular year, Snapchat is suspected to be utilized for this particular challenge. 13abc sat down with Agnieszka McPeak, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Toledo, who said that Snapchat could very well be another way teens and pre-teens are sharing their videos of them participating in the game and challenging others. "The problem with it though is it also creates a private bubble where sometimes inappropriate activity is even more common." Activity such as the choking game.
There have been past cases over the years of children dying as the result of this so-called game. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, throughout the years of 1995-2007, 82 children between the ages of 6-19 died as the result of the choking game, which it defines as "self-strangulation or strangulation by another person with the hands or a noose to achieve a brief euphoric state caused by cerebral hypoxia."
As of 2016, an 11 year old boy from South Carolina recently died from the Choking Challenge. A tragedy that now has the Toledo area wondering if the Choking Game is the cause of the recent deaths of two well-describe bright and happy elementary students within the community. Right now considered as suicides, speculation has grown that perhaps it was an accident- a game that went too far.
Many are urging parents to learn about the challenge and to pay attention, telling parents to talk to their children about the game and explain not to do it.
For further information and resources please look into the following:
Kids and the 'Choking Game': Resources for How to Get Help
Choking Game Prevention, Children Ages Six to 19 Years
The Choking Game: Facts for Parents and Teachers
