A trend that went viral on the social platform TikTok, has injured many students. It was called the skull-breaker challenge and involves two people kicking the legs from under a third person, making them fall either on their head or back. This behaviour caused serious brain damage for victims and arrests for the others involved. It is reported that this trend began at a school in Venezuela where it was called “rompecraneos” which translates to skullbreaker. 

In one instance, a young boy in New Jersey was hospitalized after his friends pranked him. He hit his head on the floor and suffered a concussion and seizures. And, a young girl in the UK had taken part in this challenge with her two friends, her mother wrote, “Please, please if you have teenagers doing TikToks, do not let them get involved in this.” For the two children who are “pranking” the third, they are facing some hefty charges. Two children in New Jersey were charged with third-degree aggravated assault and third-degree endangering an injured victim after an incident involving the prank. Children are likely doing this dangerous stunt to become TikTok famous, but there is no point. TikTok is said to have removed any content encouraging violence: “We [TikTok] do not allow content that encourages or replicates dangerous challenges that might lead to injury.” TikTok is urging users to report any videos containing the challenge. At this time there have been reported injuries related to it in Pennsylvania, Oregon, Arkansas, and Alabama.

There is an old adage that says, just because your friends are doing something doesn’t mean you should. Think about the consequences associated with taking part in any social media challenge. It’s similar to the saying, “If everyone else jumped off a bridge would you?” The idea is that just because everyone else is doing something stupid or dangerous doesn’t mean you should, you’re putting yourself and others in danger of continuing this stunt. For more information about the skull breaker challenge, check out the articles below. 

https://www.insider.com/boy-hospitalized-after-trying-tiktok-skull-breaker-challenge-2020-3

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51742854