In 2018, the Tide Pod challenge prompted a major company to issue a warning about its products after hundreds of people, mostly teenagers, dared each other to eat the laundry detergent pods on video.
In 2019, a new film-inspired challenge is already making waves – and prompting warnings.
It’s called the Bird Box Challenge, based off the Netflix movie starring Sandra Bullock.
The movie tells the story of a mysterious force that decimates a city, and a mother and her two children’s journey to get to safety.
The twist: The family must wear blindfolds while trying to survive in the wilderness, because if they see the evil force, they will die.
The film has been viewed by 45 million people in the U.S. since its Dec. 13 release, prompting several internet memes and now a viral video challenge.
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According to social media posts, the person doing the challenge blindfolds themselves and tries to do everyday activities, such as cleaning the kitchen or walking down the street. The results aren’t hard to imagine.
Y’all gotta chill #BirdBoxChallenge 😂😂 why he do the baby like that pic.twitter.com/hspFdNHzTC
— Mya✨ (@sosomyaaa) December 27, 2018
#BirdBoxChallenge getting firewood pic.twitter.com/mrHmRsYc9i
— Capell Miller (@Killer12Miller) January 2, 2019
When you’re not allowed to see but you can’t skip legs! #BirdBox #BirdBoxNetflix #BirdBoxChallenge pic.twitter.com/miUPquHg6i
— CORΞY SHIΞLDS (@mrxoutstanding) January 2, 2019
People of all ages are testing their limits, and some parents are involving their children.
There have yet to be reports of any serious injuries, but Netflix issued a safety warning across its social media platforms on Wednesday.
Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS BIRD BOX CHALLENGE. We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes.
— Netflix US (@netflix) January 2, 2019
The message had been retweeted 40,000 times by 3 p.m. that afternoon.
@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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