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Man eating tide pod

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A 19 year old woman  and her boyfriend made “the most dangerous video ever” where she wanted to show the public that a book would block a gunshot. She got her boyfriend to put the book up to his chest and when she shot him, the bullet went through the book and hit him, killing him.

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YouTube stunt leaves Minnesota man dead, girlfriend charged with manslaughter

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A 19-year-old Minnesota woman has been charged with manslaughter after shooting her boyfriend in a YouTube stunt that went horribly wrong.

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Social media has been considered dangerous because of the fast spread of trends. Every time a new trend comes out, teens on the specific app feel like they need to do it because of factors such as popularity or likes. Some of these trends consist of the "Tide Pod trend," the "Cinnamon trend," and the "Blackout trend." The Tide Pod challenge was when kids on TikTok were eating Tide pods and a lot of kids ended up getting sick because of this. The Cinnamon trend was when people would eat a straight spoonful of cinnamon and this would cause kids to choke. The Blackout trend was when people would hold their breaths until they passed out and this resulted in irreversible brain damage, with some kids ending up dying. This really shows how dangerous social media can be and how peer pressure can really affect someone's decision-making. These trends have resulted in people getting severely injured or worse.

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In 2017-2018 there was a harmful social media trend where teenagers would eat tide pods because they looked appealing to the eye.

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Why teenagers eat Tide pods - Harvard Health

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It's difficult to understand why teenagers would willingly engage in risky behavior like the Tide Pod Challenge. It's due to the combination of young brains that are still growing and forming, the need to learn to take risks, and the attention and pressure from social media.

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Miranda Sings (popular content creator) does cinnamon challenge

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The "blackout" trend was when people would try their longest to hold their breath until they pass out. This lead to many teens developing permanent brain damage and in worse cases, death.

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Parents Say Son, 13, Died After Attempting Dangerous Social Media Challenge: ‘We Remain Paralyzed in Thought and Sorrow’

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Parents of Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr. believe their 13-year-old son died after he attempted a dangerous social media stunt that challenges participants to make themselves pass out, similar to the deadly ‘Blackout Challenge’ from years ago.

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The cinnamon challenge was a social media trend that consisted of people putting a spoonful of cinnamon into there mouths and not having water for one minute.

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If you haven't heard of the Cinnamon Challenge yet, it is a viral Internet challenge that requires participants to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in under 60 seconds without drinking anything. The challenge is extremely difficult and carries substantial health risks.

Although the spice is harmless and potentially even healthful in small amounts, it can be caustic to the airways when inhaled, causing inflammation and scarring of the lungs.

History of the Cinnamon Challenge

The cinnamon dare has been around for over a decade, but its popularity took off about four years ago. It was featured in an episode of the Big Brother UK; radio programs have aired segments featuring people performing this stunt; and many celebrities and public figures have publicly attempted to beat the challenge, including NBA players.

In a 2012 episode of the Discovery Channel series Mythbusters, each member of the Build Team attempted the challenge. Two people failed the challenge, while the third completed it by tucking his spoonful into his cheek and letting saliva dissolve the cinnamon, but that took more than 60 seconds to complete.

Many people upload their attempts to beat the Cinnamon Challenge to YouTube, including comedians and other popular artists, to increase their popularity.

Dangers of the Cinnamon Challenge:

1. There is a risk of gagging on the cinnamon, especially if it forms a clump and clogs the airways.

2. Cinnamon powder contains an inert substance called cellulose, which can lodge in the lungs. Cellulose doesn't break down, so when it gets into the lungs it sits there long-term and can lead to chronic inflammation and eventually scarring of the lungs.

3. Coumarin is a toxic chemical compound that is present in cinnamon. European health agencies have warned against consuming it in large amounts.

4. Sometimes those performing the stunt may gag and accidentally exhale the cinnamon through their noses. This often results in considerable irritation, discomfort, burning or itching of the affected nasal tissue and nostrils.

5. Attempting the challenge can cause vomiting, pneumonia, collapsed lungs and progressive lung damage, which can lead to prolonged hospital stays and the need for a ventilator.

6. Inhaling cinnamon powder even once can cause an asthma attack or uncontrollable spasms and narrowing of the bronchioles. For children with a history of asthma, this can trigger a fatal asthma attack.

Cinnamon Challenge-related illnesses and injuries can be prevented by talking to your kids about the dangers of attempting this stunt. Let your kids know that just because it's on YouTube does not mean it's safe to try at home.
Last Updated: May 1, 2015

About Author: Nisha Chandran, MD

Dr. Nisha Chandran, pediatrician with OSF Medical Group in Rockford, Illinois, was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. After finishing medical school in India, she specialized in pediatrics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Chandran remained at the University of Illinois Hospital and Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital as Chief Resident in the Pediatrics Department.

In her free time, Dr. Chandran likes spending time with her two young boys, being outdoors, keeping active and reading.
This author is no longer writing for this blog.

View all posts by Nisha Chandran, MD

Tags: health risks

Categories: Kids & Family

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Friends Don't Let Friends Take the Cinnamon Challenge

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Cinnamon Challenge-related illnesses and injuries can be prevented by talking to your kids about the dangers of attempting this stunt.

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75% of teens feel pressured to drink alcohol or use drugs after seeing friends post about these activities online.

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Approximately half of adolescents (between 43.6 and 54.2%) feel some pressure to gain social media attention.