Dark secret behind this ‘harmless’ smile

This is the face of one of the most dangerous developments of the past decade - bone-headed behaviour that led to countless injuries and even death.

Carly Wright

less than 2 min read

May 17, 2025 - 5:20AM

news.com.au

Although the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge supported a great cause, raising over $220 million globally for ALS research, and was generally considered safe for most participants, it also helped popularise the viral ‘challenge’ format on social media, combining nomination-based participation (tagging your friends to partake) and celebrity appeal. Donald Trump pictured on top of the Trump tower: YouTube

1/23Although the 2014 Ice Bucket Challenge supported a great cause, raising over $220 million globally for ALS research, and was generally considered safe for most participants, it also helped popularise the viral ‘challenge’ format on social media, combining nomination-based participation (tagging your friends to partake) and celebrity appeal. Donald Trump pictured on top of the Trump tower: YouTube

Its success sparked a wave of imitators, and players sought attention by flirting with injury and testing deadly limits. Oprah Winfrey (L) and Bill Gates (R). Picture: YouTube

2/23Its success sparked a wave of imitators, and players sought attention by flirting with injury and testing deadly limits. Oprah Winfrey (L) and Bill Gates (R). Picture: YouTube

3/23LeBron James (L) and Justin Bieber (R) also took part in the fun - but there were dark consequences. Picture: YouTube

A wave of other seemingly “harmless” viral challenges that resulted in serious health risks included The Tooth Filing Challenge. It’s exactly what it sounds like - teens used a nail file or cuticle to file down their teeth. Enamel erosion was one of the most serious issues resulting from this challenge. Picture: YouTube

4/23A wave of other seemingly “harmless” viral challenges that resulted in serious health risks included The Tooth Filing Challenge. It’s exactly what it sounds like - teens used a nail file or cuticle to file down their teeth. Enamel erosion was one of the most serious issues resulting from this challenge. Picture: YouTube

The Blackout Challenge: This dangerous trend tops the list of reckless challenges that surfaced online after the Ice Bucket challenge went global. It involved kids choking themselves on purpose to the point of fainting, in hopes of experiencing a brief high. In 2024, a US court ruled that TikTok could be held legally responsible. 13-year-old Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr (L) and 10-year-old Nylah Anderson (R) were just two of the 20 kids that died between 2021 and 2022. Picture: Supplied

5/23The Blackout Challenge: This dangerous trend tops the list of reckless challenges that surfaced online after the Ice Bucket challenge went global. It involved kids choking themselves on purpose to the point of fainting, in hopes of experiencing a brief high. In 2024, a US court ruled that TikTok could be held legally responsible. 13-year-old Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr (L) and 10-year-old Nylah Anderson (R) were just two of the 20 kids that died between 2021 and 2022. Picture: Supplied

The Chromebook Challenge: Students tampered with school-issued laptops by inserting metal objects into the devices, causing electrical short circuits. These reckless actions led to fires and the release of toxic smoke. Several incidents resulted in emergency evacuations, hospitalisations due to smoke inhalation, and even criminal charges for those involved. Picture: X

6/23The Chromebook Challenge: Students tampered with school-issued laptops by inserting metal objects into the devices, causing electrical short circuits. These reckless actions led to fires and the release of toxic smoke. Several incidents resulted in emergency evacuations, hospitalisations due to smoke inhalation, and even criminal charges for those involved. Picture: X

The Benadryl Challenge: Consuming dangerously high doses of diphenhydramine, a common antihistamine found in products like Benadryl, with the intent of experiencing hallucinations. Ingesting large amounts of diphenhydramine can lead to severe health complications, including seizures, extreme confusion, irregular heart rhythms and brain damage. The danger became tragically clear in 2023 when 13-year-old Jacob Stevens died after attempting the challenge. Picture: TikTok

7/23The Benadryl Challenge: Consuming dangerously high doses of diphenhydramine, a common antihistamine found in products like Benadryl, with the intent of experiencing hallucinations. Ingesting large amounts of diphenhydramine can lead to severe health complications, including seizures, extreme confusion, irregular heart rhythms and brain damage. The danger became tragically clear in 2023 when 13-year-old Jacob Stevens died after attempting the challenge. Picture: TikTok

The Skullbreaker Challenge: It’s in the name - this was a deceptive prank where two individuals trick an unsuspecting third party into jumping into the air. As the person jumps, the other two kick their legs out from under them, causing them to fall backward uncontrollably. This fall often results in the person landing violently on their back or head, posing serious risks. A 13-year-old boy in New Jersey suffered a concussion and a seizure, and a 13-year-old girl in Pennsylvania was nearly paralysed. Source: TikTok

8/23The Skullbreaker Challenge: It’s in the name - this was a deceptive prank where two individuals trick an unsuspecting third party into jumping into the air. As the person jumps, the other two kick their legs out from under them, causing them to fall backward uncontrollably. This fall often results in the person landing violently on their back or head, posing serious risks. A 13-year-old boy in New Jersey suffered a concussion and a seizure, and a 13-year-old girl in Pennsylvania was nearly paralysed. Source: TikTok

The Chroming Challenge: Inhaling fumes from aerosol products to achieve a high has tragically led to multiple fatalities among teenagers globally. In Australia, 13-year-old Esra Haynes died in March 2023 after inhaling chemicals from a deodorant can during a sleepover. Her parents, Paul and Andrea, have since campaigned for stricter social media regulations. Picture: Supplied

9/23The Chroming Challenge: Inhaling fumes from aerosol products to achieve a high has tragically led to multiple fatalities among teenagers globally. In Australia, 13-year-old Esra Haynes died in March 2023 after inhaling chemicals from a deodorant can during a sleepover. Her parents, Paul and Andrea, have since campaigned for stricter social media regulations. Picture: Supplied

The Vacuum Challenge: Also known as the 'Trash Bag Challenge', saw teens and often children place themselves inside large plastic trash bags and use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the air, creating a sealed environment. This practice can lead to serious health risks, including suffocation and cerebral hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain). Picture: YouTube

10/23The Vacuum Challenge: Also known as the 'Trash Bag Challenge', saw teens and often children place themselves inside large plastic trash bags and use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the air, creating a sealed environment. This practice can lead to serious health risks, including suffocation and cerebral hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain). Picture: YouTube

The Fire Challenge: Players applied flammable liquids (such as rubbing alcohol, lighter fluid, or aerosol sprays) to their body or clothing and set themselves on fire. 12-year-old Jason (R) suffered second-degree burns after a friend sprayed him with nail polish remover. Picture: YouTube

11/23The Fire Challenge: Players applied flammable liquids (such as rubbing alcohol, lighter fluid, or aerosol sprays) to their body or clothing and set themselves on fire. 12-year-old Jason (R) suffered second-degree burns after a friend sprayed him with nail polish remover. Picture: YouTube

The Planking Challenge: Involved participants lying face down, with arms to their sides in bizarre and risky locations for comedic effect. A 20-year-old Aussie died falling from a seventh-floor balcony in 2011, and there were reports of numerous fatal accidents due to people attempting to plank on moving cars. Picture: Instagram

12/23The Planking Challenge: Involved participants lying face down, with arms to their sides in bizarre and risky locations for comedic effect. A 20-year-old Aussie died falling from a seventh-floor balcony in 2011, and there were reports of numerous fatal accidents due to people attempting to plank on moving cars. Picture: Instagram

13/23The One Chip Challenge: eating an extremely spicy chip coated with peppers like the Carolina Reaper, causing severe stomach pain, vomiting, and in rare cases, cardiac arrest, as seen in the 2023 death of 14-year-old Harris Wolobah. Chip brand Paqui faced significant backlash for promoting the product. Picture: GoFundMe

$The Milk Crate Challenge: Players attempt to climb a pyramid of stacked plastic milk crates arranged in a formation resembling a staircase. The goal is to reach the top of the stack and then descend without falling. A large number of participants suffered broken bones and there were several reports of people suffering spinal fractures and traumatic brain injuries. Picture: YouTube$

14/23The Milk Crate Challenge: Players attempt to climb a pyramid of stacked plastic milk crates arranged in a formation resembling a staircase. The goal is to reach the top of the stack and then descend without falling. A large number of participants suffered broken bones and there were several reports of people suffering spinal fractures and traumatic brain injuries. Picture: YouTube

The Condom Challenge: This is not what parents meant when they said use protection. Players inserted a latex condom into their nostril, snorting it through the nasal cavity, and attempted to expel it out of their mouth. Reported injuries included choking, nasal damage, sinus blockages and infections. Picture: YouTube

15/23The Condom Challenge: This is not what parents meant when they said use protection. Players inserted a latex condom into their nostril, snorting it through the nasal cavity, and attempted to expel it out of their mouth. Reported injuries included choking, nasal damage, sinus blockages and infections. Picture: YouTube

The Salt and Ice Challenge: placing salt on a bare patch of skin, usually the forearm, and pressing ice on top of it. The combination causes an intense burning sensation and, in some cases, leads to severe skin damage, including frostbite and chemical burns. Picture: YouTube

16/23The Salt and Ice Challenge: placing salt on a bare patch of skin, usually the forearm, and pressing ice on top of it. The combination causes an intense burning sensation and, in some cases, leads to severe skin damage, including frostbite and chemical burns. Picture: YouTube

The Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge: Using a shot glass, plastic bottle, or similar object to create a suction effect on the lips in an attempt to achieve fuller, plumper lip, to imitate Jenner's full pout. The suction methods led to injuries including severe swelling, bruising, blisters and even nerve damage. Picture: Instagram

17/23The Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge: Using a shot glass, plastic bottle, or similar object to create a suction effect on the lips in an attempt to achieve fuller, plumper lip, to imitate Jenner's full pout. The suction methods led to injuries including severe swelling, bruising, blisters and even nerve damage. Picture: Instagram

The Tide Pod Challenge gained widespread attention in 2018 when teens started biting into or attempting to eat a colourful, detergent-filled laundry pod despite clearly being labelled as toxic. There were over 10,500 reports of hospitalisation from poisoning. Picture: YouTube

18/23The Tide Pod Challenge gained widespread attention in 2018 when teens started biting into or attempting to eat a colourful, detergent-filled laundry pod despite clearly being labelled as toxic. There were over 10,500 reports of hospitalisation from poisoning. Picture: YouTube

$The Bird Box Challenge: inspired by the success of the Netflix film starring Sandra Bullock, players attempted everyday tasks while blindfolded, whether it was walking around, or performing household chores - and the most reckless act that led to various serious injuries such as a skull fracture, driving a car. Picture: YouTube$

19/23The Bird Box Challenge: inspired by the success of the Netflix film starring Sandra Bullock, players attempted everyday tasks while blindfolded, whether it was walking around, or performing household chores - and the most reckless act that led to various serious injuries such as a skull fracture, driving a car. Picture: YouTube

Bottle Cap Challenge: this is probably a trend you still see on your feed every now and again, but it gained immense popularity in 2019, when TikTokers all over the world performed martial arts-style kicks to remove the cap from a bottle, making sure the bottle doesn't tip over. While it may seem harmless, it resulted in broken bones, neck and spine injuries and head trauma. Picture: TikTok

20/23Bottle Cap Challenge: this is probably a trend you still see on your feed every now and again, but it gained immense popularity in 2019, when TikTokers all over the world performed martial arts-style kicks to remove the cap from a bottle, making sure the bottle doesn't tip over. While it may seem harmless, it resulted in broken bones, neck and spine injuries and head trauma. Picture: TikTok

The Gallon Challenge: drink 3.8 litres of milk in an hour or less. The challenge involves trying to consume the entire gallon without vomiting or stopping. Symptoms included Hyponatremia (water intoxication), Aspiration Pneumonia and Kidney Strain. Picture: YouTube

21/23The Gallon Challenge: drink 3.8 litres of milk in an hour or less. The challenge involves trying to consume the entire gallon without vomiting or stopping. Symptoms included Hyponatremia (water intoxication), Aspiration Pneumonia and Kidney Strain. Picture: YouTube

The Pee Your Pants Challenge: participants intentionally urinate in their clothes while recording themselves, usually in a public or semipublic setting. Experts warned it would result in UTIs, rashes and dehydration. Picture: TikTok

22/23The Pee Your Pants Challenge: participants intentionally urinate in their clothes while recording themselves, usually in a public or semipublic setting. Experts warned it would result in UTIs, rashes and dehydration. Picture: TikTok

The Cinnamon Challenge: even if you didn't hear about half of the crazy challenges on this list, this is one you would have struggled to miss if you owned a phone. This viral trend involved attempting to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon without drinking any water. By 2012, there were millions of videos online - despite the choking hazards, respiratory problems and liver damage that followed. Picture: YouTube

23/23The Cinnamon Challenge: even if you didn't hear about half of the crazy challenges on this list, this is one you would have struggled to miss if you owned a phone. This viral trend involved attempting to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon without drinking any water. By 2012, there were millions of videos online - despite the choking hazards, respiratory problems and liver damage that followed. Picture: YouTube

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/technology/online/dark-secret-behind-this-harmless-smile/image-gallery/c7235d480e7d41d7f84f973cb86172fc

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