The early 2010s saw the emergence of viral internet challenges that spread rapidly across YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. While many seemed funny or exciting at first, some were far more dangerous than they appeared. From stunts involving fire to eating contests with serious health risks, these challenges pushed people to try extreme things for views and attention. Looking back, it’s clear that some of these trends weren’t just silly; they could cause real harm.
1. Cinnamon Challenge
The Cinnamon Challenge dared people to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in under a minute without drinking water. It sounds harmless, but cinnamon dries out the mouth quickly and can be inhaled into the lungs. Emergency rooms reported increased visits for choking, gagging, and breathing trouble. The American Association of Poison Control Centers warned against it in 2012 after over 200 cases were called in during a single month. Many videos were later taken down for promoting unsafe behavior.
2. Fire Challenge
The Fire Challenge involved teens pouring rubbing alcohol or another flammable liquid on their skin, then setting it on fire while filming themselves. While most planned to put out the flames quickly, several participants were severely burned. One 15-year-old in Kentucky was hospitalized in 2014 with second-degree burns after trying the challenge. Fire departments and doctors issued strong warnings, but some videos continued to circulate for months. The challenge led to multiple injuries and arrests.
3. Salt and Ice Challenge
This painful trend had people placing salt on their skin and then pressing ice cubes on top. The chemical reaction would cause a burning sensation and could result in frostbite or second-degree burns. Some participants were left with permanent scars. Hospitals in the U.S. and UK reported treating teenagers for skin damage. Though it appeared less risky than other viral stunts, it caused lasting harm to many who tried it thinking it was just a cold prank.
4. Neknominate
Neknominate started in the UK and spread worldwide around 2014. It was a drinking game where people filmed themselves downing large amounts of alcohol in one go, then “nominating” others to beat the stunt. The challenge led to several alcohol poisonings and at least five reported deaths in the UK. Some participants drank dangerous substances or performed risky actions while intoxicated. The trend eventually lost steam after major public backlash and efforts to promote safer alternatives.
5. Eraser Challenge
This challenge involved rubbing an eraser back and forth on the skin while saying the alphabet or repeating a phrase. The friction caused burns or open wounds. Some kids compared the injuries afterward, turning it into a contest. Schools around the U.S. began warning parents after students ended up with raw, bleeding skin. Though it didn’t involve risky items, it caused infections and permanent scarring. It was one of many challenges that seemed mild but had serious results.
6. Gallon Milk Challenge
The Gallon Milk Challenge involved drinking an entire gallon of milk in under an hour without vomiting. While it sounds like a messy dare, it posed real health risks. The human stomach can’t process that much milk at once, leading to extreme nausea and even electrolyte imbalance. Vomiting was common, but in rare cases, the challenge caused breathing trouble due to inhaled fluids. Doctors warned that forcing this much dairy in a short time could be dangerous, especially for teens.
7. Choking Game
Though it started before the 2010s, the Choking Game gained new attention online during this decade. Participants would restrict oxygen to their brains often by choking themselves or each other to feel lightheaded or high. Some videos shared step-by-step instructions. Dozens of deaths were reported worldwide, many involving middle or high school students. Safety groups launched campaigns to warn families and schools. Despite sounding like a game, the risk of brain damage or death was extremely high.
8. Car Surfing
Car Surfing involved riding on the roof or hood of a moving vehicle while someone else drove. It first appeared in the 1980s but went viral again through online video clips in the early 2010s. Serious injuries and deaths were reported when people fell off moving cars. In one 2011 case, a teen in Colorado died during a car surfing stunt gone wrong. Police across the U.S. reminded drivers that the challenge was not just illegal but often fatal.
9. Planking in Dangerous Places
Planking involved lying face down, stiff like a board, in unusual places. While harmless on a couch or lawn, some took it too far, planking on rooftops, railings, or ledges. At least one fatal fall was linked to planking in 2011 when a man tried it on a balcony railing in Australia. The trend mixed humor with risk, and while most attempts were safe, the pressure to top others led to reckless behavior that could turn deadly in seconds.
