Resources for viral trends that are dangerous to health and mental health, with an emphasis on prevention and protection:

Courses, Library, Media, News / By / June 19, 2025

Resources for viral trends that are dangerous to health and mental health, with an emphasis on prevention and protection:

1. 🎥 10-year-old dies after attempting “blackout challenge” on TikTok

YouTube A story from a mother whose child died after participating in a dangerous challenge: choking game, довел до удавяне healthline.com+1youtube.com+1thesun.co.uk+4youtube.com+4mcafee.com+4

2. 🎥 The Deadly Side of TikTok Viral Challenges

A review of deadly TikTok challenges – degradation of eating behavior, suicidal impulses, choking games

3. Healthline – Blackout challenge can cause brain damage, death

Article proves that guaranteed lack of oxygen can damage the brain or cause death in less than 5 minutes healthline.com

4. McAfee – Deadly Digital Dares: The Blackout Challenge on TikTok

A parent’s guide to signs, physical risks, and steps to prevent this dangerous challenge https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/family-safety/deadly-digital-dares-the-blackout-challenge-on-tiktok/

5. Bloomberg – TikTok’s viral challenges killing children

Investigation into dead children and the platform’s reaction against „blackout challenge“ welt.de+10bloomberg.com+10theguardian.com+10

6. Parents – Yes You Can Trend Grooming Alerts

Parental breaking news and expert opinions on aggressive digital manipulation in TikTok trend en.wikipedia.org+2parents.com+2yahoo.com+2

7. TikTok/Instagram предупреждения за “Yes You Can”

Parental warning: trend that encourages minors to take risky encounters and actions https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/1234887372/yes-you-can-trend/

8. Wikipedia – Blackout challenge

Background information, history, victims (about 20), and TikTok and media reactions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_challenge

9. Wikipedia – Benadryl challenge

Critical review: diphenhydramine overdose challenge resulting in death and hospitalizations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benadryl_challenge

10. Wikipedia – Devious lick

Teenage misbehavior – theft and vandalism at school leading to legal consequences https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devious_lick

Videos and calls

  1. Child lost consciousness after dangerous TikTok challenge — report from Trud Online, examines random incident in Burgas and provides recommendations for parents https://trud.bg/a/articles/%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B3%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%B8-%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B4-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%B2-tiktok#:~:text=%D0%92%20%D0%A3%D0%9C%D0%91%D0%90%D0%9B%20%D0%91%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%81%20%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%B0%20%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5,%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%20%D0%B5%20%D0%B2%20%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B9%D0%B4%D0%B6%D1%8A%D1%80%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%20%D0%B2%D1%8A%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82TikTok challenge)

  2. Fun and dangerous apps — a conversation on BNT (“100% awake”) with Zornitsa Asparuhova and ethical hacker Georgi Dinchev about dangerous apps and trends https://bnt.bg/bg/a/zabavnite-i-opasni-prilozheniya-razgovor-ss-zornitsa-asparukhova-i-georgi-dinchev

  3. ILLEGAL TikTok Trends — English YouTube video examines the most dangerous illicit TikTok trends (with more examples) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaZG6U91WN8

  4. The Dangerous Social Media Challenges: A Guide for Parents — a video guide for parents showing risky social media trends and how to prevent them http://openr.co+13wikitechlibrary.com+13facebook.com+13

  5. The Deadly Social Media Challenge Trend — article+site with a visual overview (Tide pod, blackout, etc.) and analysis of their effect on the psyche  http://wikitechlibrary.com+15openr.co+15tiktok.com+15

📝 Articles and references

  1. 10 Of The Dumbest & Most Dangerous Social Media Trends (English) — top 10 most dangerous video trends: Tide Pod challenge, salt&ice, choking game и др. scoopwhoop.com.
    Suitable for translation or adaptation in school.

  2. COVID-19 disinfo в български социални медии —academic study of the impact of dangerous viral content, as an example of shaping public opinion. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/coronavirus-response/fighting-disinformation_bg

  3. Parents Want Stricter Legislation to Protect Kids on Social Media — infographic showing parents’ concerns about dangerous TikTok and Snapchat trends security.org.

  4. TikTok dangerous trends — Ministry of Health (FB) — warning from the Ministry of Health about risky trends and questionable advertisements https://btvnovinite.bg/svetut/zdravnite-vlasti-preduprezhdavat-za-novo-opasno-tiktok-predizvikatelstvo.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawLAtfBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB4bFIyQWlOSlNLSWFxUW9FAR784k3gGfTxvDFd-848H31KfUF3gd0vmqcYhfUgMpsnU4Y5GCOE_wY3onFhKg_aem_2tGB-J1r8pP1yV6TBSYvSw

  5. WHO and Infodemics — the ways in which dangerous information (including viral challenges) undermine public health, and EU/WHO prevention actions. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/bg/infographics/towards-an-international-treaty-on-pandemics/

Audience Format Goals
🏫 Schools 🎬 Videos + 📰 Articles with Bulgarian subtitles/translation 💬 Discussions about logic, risks, and safe alternatives
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents 📺 TV interviews (BNT) + 📱 Facebook posts 🤝 Strengthen dialogue and establish a family media code
📢 Public Campaigns 📊 Infographics + 📚 Academic sources 🔔 Raise awareness about harmful viral content and disinfo

How to use them:

For media campaigns and schools – share the videos accompanied by discussions: why these trends lead to harm, how to recognize and avoid them.

For parents – encourage open dialogue with children: share articles and videos, explain the risks and set family rules for the use of social networks.

For platforms and laws – most cases lead to court and legislative changes – you can emphasize the need for protection and regulation.

 

 

 

 

This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them

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